Black Skimmer Identification

Breeding adult

Long-winged coastal waterbird. Black above and white below with a bicolored bill. Often flaps with its wings held above its body.

Breeding adult

The upper bill is shorter than the lower bill. Note the long body and short red-orange legs.

Breeding adults

Larger than terns but with similarly elegant, streamlined proportions. Sharp black-and-white contrast and red-and-black bill are distinctive.

Immature

Immature birds look similar to adults but have more white on the neck and brown on back and wings.

Juvenile

Often rests with its body flat on the ground and neck extended.

Nonbreeding adult

Juvenile

A buoyant and graceful flier typically seen low over the water. Note dark wingtips and white tail with a black line down the center.

Breeding adult

Flies low with its lower bill slicing through the water. When the bill touches a fish, the upper bill snaps down instantly to catch it.

Nonbreeding adult

Breeding adult

Flock

Found on open sandy beaches, on gravel or shell bars with sparse vegetation, or on mats of sea wrack (tide-stranded debris) in saltmarshes. Often forms large flocks outside the breeding season.