The Rynchops niger (scientific name) or black skimmer is endemic to the Americas, breeding in North and South America. 16-20 inches in length, this bird has a black crown, nape and upper body. The forehead and lower parts are white. The wings are black with white tips and the tail and rump are grey. The bill is long and black, with a red base. The feet too are red. It looks for food in a group, and its diet is comprised of small fish, insects, mollusks and crustaceans. An average clutch-size has 3-7 eggs incubated by both parents for 21-26 days. Gregarious in nature, the black skimmer spends a lot of time loafing around on sandbars in groups. Its IUCN listing is the LEAST CONCERN.
Black Skimmer
