Black
Skimmer, Rynchops
niger
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![]() Above, a skimmer skimming -- flying with the lower mandible of the bill cutting through the water. Below: when a fish or other object is contacted, the bird instantly snaps its bill shut and tucks its head and neck to secure the prey, as this bird is doing. |
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![]() Above, a skimmer in non-breeding plumage, with a white and gray nape; below, the breeding plumage, with solid black connecting crown to mantle. |
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![]() ![]() ![]() Note the crack in the lower mandible near the tip, shown above; and below, what appears to be a broken-off lower mandible tip in the adult bird on the left, facing off with a begging juvenile. The feeding method of the skimmer must create substantial risks of injuries of this kind. The adult of the pair below is molting from breeding to non-breeding plumage, as gray/white feathers are emerging on the nape. |
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![]() A juvenile standing, above; one hovering, below. |
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![]() Adult and juvenile flying together. |
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![]() A single juvenile (tan cap) right in the middle surrounded by eight adults (black caps), four on each side. |
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![]() Nine juvenile Black Skimmers flying together in formation, with no adults along. |
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![]() A Black Skimmer on the Texas Gulf Coast flying over five Sandwich Terns, four Black Skimmers, three Royal Terns, and a single Laughing Gull. No partridge or pear tree. |
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![]() Finally, the reflection of a flying Black Skimmer. |