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 manipulating a mangrove pod with its bill
Title: Black Skimmer manipulating a mangrove pod with its bill
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/30/2008
Black Skimmer twisting a seed pod in its bill
Title: Black Skimmer twisting a seed pod in its bill
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/30/2008
Black Skimmer grasping a seedpod with its bill
Title: Black Skimmer grasping a seedpod with its bill
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/30/2008
Black Skimmer and a seed pod
Title: Black Skimmer and a seed pod
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/30/2008
Black Skimmer with a Mangrove seed pod in mid air
Title: Black Skimmer with a Mangrove seed pod in mid air
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/30/2008
Playful Black Skimmer
Title: Playful Black Skimmer
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/30/2008
Black Skimmer with a Mangrove seed pod
Title: Black Skimmer with a Mangrove seed pod
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/30/2008
Black Skimmer playing a Mangrove seed pod?
Title: Black Skimmer playing a Mangrove seed pod?
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/30/2008
Black Skimmer twirling a Mangrove seed pod
Title: Black Skimmer twirling a Mangrove seed pod
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 4/30/2008