Velasco, Freeport, TX, US - June 4, 2011
Credit: Dan Pancamo

North American field guide

Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

40-50 cm (16-20") Locally common. Unique unequal scissor-like bright red bill (black tipped) is used to skim the surface of bays, lakes, and marshes for fish.

Song: call is raucous bark.

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Approximate reconstruction of a historical map. Source date unknown.

Geography: Natural Earth
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black Skimmer

2 rules
Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 3
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States
result:566-black-skimmer:1:1 Source: 566 Black Skimmer, row 1
Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 1
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States