Black Skimmers Skimming

The white and black plumage of a Black Skimmer is easy to spot, but a closer look reveals the truly defining characteristic; the Black Skimmer has a large red/orange and black bill with a longer lower mandible. This enables a unique feeding technique based on touch where the skimmer glides along just above the water with the lower mandible partially submerged, skimming the water’s surface. They typically skim in the early morning or late evening when the water is smooth and fish are more likely to be near the surface.

As social birds, Black Skimmers often spend the day grouped together resting, preening, and interacting with occasional excursions into the air.

When the air is calm, the water is glassy, and the skimmers are skimming, it is a wonderful sight to see. They circle around repeating flight lines as they grab small fish, lifting up to return for another pass.

And then it is time for some rest and a nap…