Photo: Terry Foote (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a member of the Laridae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 298 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Rynchops
- Species niger
Where it lives
Coastal USA from southern California to western Mexico and Massachusetts to eastern Mexico; river systems of northern, south-central South America to northeastern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 298 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Skimmer hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black Skimmer is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA coastal USA from s California to w Mexico and Massachusetts to e Mexico; river systems of n, sc South America to ne Argentina.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 298 g, with a wing length of about 36.6 cm and a tail of around 13.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 13.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Skimmer?
The Black Skimmer is a large bird that weighs around 298 g.
Where does the Black Skimmer live?
The Black Skimmer is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA coastal USA from s California to w Mexico and Massachusetts to e Mexico; river systems of n, sc South America to ne Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black Skimmer belong to?
The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Black Skimmer eat?
The Black Skimmer hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Black Skimmer migrate?
The Black Skimmer is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black Skimmer endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Skimmer make?
1 real field recording of the Black Skimmer — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Skimmer's range?
The Black Skimmer has a mapped global range of about 13.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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