Birdsong field guide
Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger
A striking coastal bird distinguished by its unique knife-like bill and specialized surface-skimming foraging technique.
What it sounds like
A series of low, blunt, nasal barks, often compared to the yapping of a small dog.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- The lower mandible is significantly longer than the upper, allowing the bird to scoop fish while in flight.
- It is the only bird species in the world with vertical pupils, an adaptation to manage glare on bright coastal sands.
- Foraging often occurs at night or during twilight when water surfaces are calm and prey is closer to the surface.
- Newly hatched chicks have mandibles of equal length, allowing them to pick up food from the ground before the lower bill elongates.
- When the lower bill strikes a fish, the upper mandible snaps shut in less than 30 milliseconds, one of the fastest reflexes among birds.
Habitat
Coastal beaches, sandbars, salt marshes, and estuaries.
Range
Coasts of North and South America, and large river systems in the South American interior.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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