Black Skimmer Images, Facts and Information:
Rynchops niger
- Black Skimmers are large, black and white waterbirds with short red legs, red and black bills with the top being shorter and have long pointed wings.
- Some Black Skimmer populations are nonmigratory and some are migratory.
- Black Skimmers are coastal and prefer sandy or gravel beaches, estuaries, bays and salt marshes.
- Black Skimmers eat fish and shrimp that are near the surface of the water and when their bills touch the prey their bills snap shut quickly.
- Black Skimmers lay 4 to 5 eggs which hatch in 21 to 23 days. Both sexes incubate and they are monogamous colonial nesters.
- A group of skimmers can be called a “scoop” of skimmers.
- Black Skimmers can live up to 20 years.
I hope you enjoy viewing my Black Skimmer photos.
Black Skimmer adult in flight
Title: Black Skimmer adult in flight
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/26/2009
Black Skimmers flying over the Gulf of Mexico
Title: Black Skimmers flying over the Gulf of Mexico
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/26/2009
Black Skimmer territorial display
Title: Black Skimmer territorial display
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/26/2009
Black Skimmer in flight close up
Title: Black Skimmer in flight close up
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/26/2009
Adult Black Skimmer in flight over the Gulf
Title: Adult Black Skimmer in flight over the Gulf
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/26/2009
Black Skimmer adults in flight
Title: Black Skimmer adults in flight
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/26/2009
Black Skimmer aerial chase
Title: Black Skimmer aerial chase
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/26/2009
Flock of Black Skimmers in flight
Title: Flock of Black Skimmers in flight
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/24/2009
Landing Black Skimmer
Title: Landing Black Skimmer
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/24/2009
Adult Black Skimmer flying over the Gulf of Mexico
Title: Adult Black Skimmer flying over the Gulf of Mexico
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/24/2009
Black Skimmer in nonbreeding plumage
Title: Black Skimmer in nonbreeding plumage
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/12/2009
Black Skimmer just after sunrise
Title: Black Skimmer just after sunrise
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 2/13/2009
Gulf coast Black Skimmer
Title: Gulf coast Black Skimmer
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 2/13/2009
Black Skimmers in Flight over Fort De Soto’s north beach
Title: Black Skimmers in Flight over Fort De Soto’s north beach
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 1/6/2009
Mixed flock of Brown Pelicans, Black Skimmers, Gulls and Terns
Title: Mixed flock of Brown Pelicans, Black Skimmers, Gulls and Terns
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 1/6/2009
A scoop of Black Skimmers flying past Shell Key
Title: A scoop of Black Skimmers flying past Shell Key
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 12/18/2008
Chaotic lift off (Black Skimmers and Red Knots)
Title: Chaotic lift off (Black Skimmers and Red Knots)
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 10/12/2008
Black Skimmer flight along shoreline
Title: Black Skimmer flight along shoreline
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 10/10/2008
Black Skimmer banking for landing
Title: Black Skimmer banking for landing
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 10/2/2008