Black skimmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black skimmer |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rynchops
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| Species: |
niger
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| Synonyms | |
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Rynchops fulva Linnaeus, 1758 |
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The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a special type of seabird. It looks a bit like a tern. This bird is one of three very similar species in the Rynchops family, which are all part of the gull family.
Black skimmers live and have their babies in North America and South America. Birds from the northern parts fly south for the winter. They go to warmer places like the Caribbean and the warm parts of the Pacific Ocean. Skimmers from South America move shorter distances. They follow floods that create new feeding spots in shallow rivers.
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About the Black Skimmer
Scientists give every living thing a special two-part name. This helps everyone know exactly which animal or plant they are talking about. The black skimmer was first described by a Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus in 1755. He gave it the name Rynchops niger.
The name Rynchops comes from ancient Greek words. Rhunkhos means "bill" (like a bird's beak) and ops means "face." So, it means "bill-face." The word niger is Latin for "black." This name perfectly describes the bird's unique black bill and body.
Different Types of Black Skimmers
There are three main types, or subspecies, of black skimmers:
- R. n. niger (Linnaeus, 1758) – These skimmers travel a lot. They live along the Atlantic Ocean coast of North America. You can also find them from southern California down to Ecuador on the Pacific coast.
- R. n. cinerascens (von Spix, 1825) – This type is bigger. It has darker feathers under its wings. Its black tail has only a thin white edge. These skimmers live in northern and northeastern South America, including the Amazon basin.
- R. n. intercedens (Saunders, 1895) – You can find these skimmers along the rest of the Atlantic coast of South America. They live as far south as central Argentina.
What Does a Black Skimmer Look Like?
The black skimmer is the biggest of all the skimmer birds. It is about 40 to 50 centimeters (16 to 20 inches) long. Its wings can spread out to 107 to 127 centimeters (42 to 50 inches) wide.
These birds weigh between 212 and 447 grams (7.5 to 15.8 ounces). Male skimmers are usually heavier, averaging about 349 grams (12.3 ounces). Females are a bit smaller, around 254 grams (9 ounces).
Special Features
The black skimmer has a very unique bill. The bottom part of its bill is much longer than the top part. The bottom half of the bill is red, and the rest is black.
Its eyes are also special. They have a dark brown center and a vertical pupil, like a cat's eye. This is very unusual for a bird! Their legs are red. When they call out, it sounds like a barking "kak-kak-kak."
Feather Colors
Adult skimmers ready to breed have a black head, neck, and upper body. Their forehead and belly are white. Their upper wings are black with a white edge at the back. The tail and rump (the area above the tail) are dark gray with white edges. The color under their wings can be white or dusky gray, depending on where they live.
When they are not breeding, adults look a bit paler and browner on their upper parts. They also have a white band around their neck. Young skimmers have brown upper parts with white tips on their feathers. Their belly and forehead are white, and their underwings look like the adults'.
How Black Skimmers Live
Black skimmers spend a lot of time resting together. They often gather on sandbars in rivers, along coasts, and in lagoons. They like to lie flat on the ground.
Having Babies
Black skimmers build their nests in loose groups. They choose sandy beaches and sandbanks in North and South America. The female lays three to seven eggs. These eggs are buff or bluish with dark spots. Both the male and female bird take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm.
The baby chicks leave the nest as soon as they hatch. They lie quietly in a small dip in the sand, called a "scrape." Their parents shade them from the hot sun. Sometimes, the chicks even dig their own little dips in the sand.
Parents feed their young mostly during the day. They hardly feed them at night. This is because all the adult birds might leave the colony to find food. When chicks hatch, both parts of their bill are the same length. But as they grow, the lower part quickly becomes longer.
How They Find Food
Skimmers fly gracefully with steady beats of their long wings. They usually hunt in large groups. They fly very low over the water's surface. Their lower bill skims the water, touching it to find food. They mostly eat small fish, insects, crustaceans (like crabs), and molluscs (like snails). They can catch food by touch, especially at night.
Development
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A black skimmer chick and an egg.
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An adult black skimmer feeding its chick.
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Young skimmers at four weeks old. You can tell them apart from adults by the white speckled pattern on their wings and body.
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A young black skimmer in its winter feathers.
Images for kids
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Black skimmers resting together on a sandbar.
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A black skimmer feeding in Texas.
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A black skimmer flying while feeding in Brazil.
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See also
In Spanish: Rayador americano para niños
