Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger
Physical: The Black Skimmer can reach up to 50 cm in length. They have a black dorsal surface, and are white ventrally. Their bills are red with a black tip. Lower mandibles extend past the upper, enabling them to scoop the water.
Habitat: R. niger make their homes on coastal beaches and bays from Cape Cod to South America. They winter in the southern part of this range.
Feeding: Black Skimmers eat small fish, insects, and smaller crustaceans such as shrimp.
Breeding: R. niger lay 3 to 4 brown blotched, buff eggs in shallow scrapes of sand. Incubation period is approximately 3 weeks. Breeding occurs from Massachusetts to Florida, and to Texas on the Gulf Coast.
