Black Skimmer

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Mostardas, Brazil • November 2009

Bird name: Black Skimmer
Latin: Rynchops niger
Other: Talha-mar (Br)
Family: Rynchopidae • Skimmers

The Black Skimmer is unmistakable by its large red and black bill and large size. Here a few were standing with a group of common terns on the beach - although Skimmers are not Terns, they are very similar to Terns.

There are only three species of Skimmer in the world, all with the protruding lower bill which they use to skim fish out of the sea, and cat-like vertical pupils, which are unique in the bird world.

The Black Skimmer lives in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.