Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger Linnaeus, 1758

Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger, is a gull family bird of coastal North America, Middle America and South America, breeding from southern California to western Mexico and Massachusetts to eastern Mexico, and along river systems in northern, south-central South America to north-east Argentina. It is one of three skimmer species. The bird is notable for its long lower mandible, which is much longer than the upper one. It also has a red base to the bill, red legs and a dark brown iris with a vertical pupil. Linnaeus described it in 1758.

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Laridae — Gulls, Terns, Skimmers

Breeding range

North America, Middle America, South America: coastal USA from s California to w Mexico and Massachusetts to e Mexico; river systems of n, sc South America to ne Argentina