Black Skimmer - Rynchops niger

The Black Skimmer is a tern-like seabird and is the largest of the three skimmer species. They are found along the eastern, western and gulf coasts of North America and the west coasts of South America. They are year-round residents east of the Andes in South America. They are not a common bird in the Bay Area, but a good place to find them seems to be on Radio Road in Redwood City, CA. Black Skimmers use their large bill to skim the water for small fish, insects, crustaceans and molluscs.

Juvenile

Juvenile Black Skimmer 08/18/2009 - Don Edwards - SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alviso, CA Juvenile Black Skimmer 08/18/2009 - Don Edwards - SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alviso, CA

Juvenile Black Skimmer on right 08/18/2009 - Don Edwards - SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alviso, CA Juvenile Black Skimmer on right 08/18/2009 - Don Edwards - SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alviso, CA

Juvenile Black Skimmer on right 08/18/2009 - Don Edwards - SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alviso, CA Juvenile Black Skimmer on right 08/18/2009 - Don Edwards - SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alviso, CA

Breeding (March-Sep)

Mostly transitioned to breeding plumage 03/12/2013 - Green Key Park, New Port Richey, FL Mostly transitioned to breeding plumage 03/12/2013 - Green Key Park, New Port Richey, FL	Transitioning to alternate (breeding) plumage 03/12/2013 - Green Key Park, New Port Richey, FL Transitioning to alternate (breeding) plumage 03/12/2013 - Green Key Park, New Port Richey, FL	04/14/2013 - Apffel Park, Galvestong Park, TX 04/14/2013 - Apffel Park, Galvestong Park, TX
Saw hundreds of Black Skimmers that day 04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX Saw hundreds of Black Skimmers that day 04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX	04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX 04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX	Example of how they feed 04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX Example of how they feed 04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX
04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX 04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX	04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX 04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX	04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX 04/11/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX
04/13/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX 04/13/2011 - San Luis Pass, Galveston Island, TX

Non-breeding (Sep-March)

Probably transitioning to breeding plumage 03/12/2013 - Green Key Park, New Port Richey, FL Probably transitioning to breeding plumage 03/12/2013 - Green Key Park, New Port Richey, FL

Center Skimmer still in non-breeding plumage 03/12/2013 - Green Key Park, New Port Richey, FL Center Skimmer still in non-breeding plumage 03/12/2013 - Green Key Park, New Port Richey, FL

Forster's Tern on the right 08/18/2009 - Don Edwards - SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alviso, CA Forster's Tern on the right 08/18/2009 - Don Edwards - SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Alviso, CA

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