The Black Skimmer is a species of seabird related to terns, gulls, and skuas. Black Skimmers live and breed in the Americas, with some populations migrating to warmer climates for the winter, while others remain year-round. Skimmers are recognizable by their elongated lower mandibles (lower beak).
Black Skimmers in breeding plumage are black on the crown and upper body, with white underparts and foreheads. Our cute Birdorable version of this bird is a breeding adult. Year-round, Skimmers have remarkable beaks with elongated lower mandibles. The beak is black towards the tip and bright orange closer to the face.
Black Skimmers use their beaks in feeding. They fly low over the water and skim the water with their lower mandible. They use this technique to pick up food which includes small fish, insects, and crustaceans.
