Terns and Skimmers
Family: Laridae
Terns and skimmers are known for their unique hunting techniques and stunning aerial acrobatics. With their long, slender wings and pointed bills, terns and skimmers are perfectly adapted for catching fish on the wing.
In North America there are 18 species in 9 genera. Most species feed exclusively on fish captured while plunge-diving into the water. Skimmers capture their prey by snapping their lower mandible closed as it slices through the surface of the water.
