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Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, CA. Aug 24, 2019 Black Skimmer,Geotagged,Rynchops niger,Summer,United States Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)

San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, CA. Aug 24, 2019

    comments (9)

  1. Black skimmers, or miniature pterodactyls as I like to call them! These tern relatives are fantastic birds, some of the weirdest on the planet if you ask me, and with amazing personality. They have a uniquely asymmetrical bill, with a much longer lower mandible. They hunt by flying low over the water, half their bill sticking in the water and skimming along along they find a fish.
    This was only my third encounter with them, and by far the best. There were over 80 resting on an island in this marsh, and several were constantly on the move, making funny honking sounds, and one would occasionally pass right in front of me, zooming along like a flying hoover.
    There are 3 species, which look almost identical: this is the American one, then there is one in Asia and one in Africa, both endangered. Now I really want to see the other two!
    Posted 6 years ago
  2. Beautiful moment! Posted 6 years ago
  3. Wonderfully timed shot, amazing. Posted 6 years ago
  4. Thanks! Posted 6 years ago
  5. Spectacular! Posted 6 years ago
  6. Another awesome capture, Thibaud! Wow!! Posted 6 years ago
    1. Thanks Christine :) Posted 6 years ago
  7. Not only spectacular timing, although a shot of stunning technical quality at this speed! Posted 6 years ago
    1. Thanks Ferdy, I spent about an hour taking photos of these guys. A few shots were bound to come out alright! Posted 6 years ago

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The Black Skimmer is a tern-like seabird, one of three very similar birds species in the skimmer family. It breeds in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific coasts, but the South American races make only shorter movements in response to annual floods which extend their feeding areas in the river shallows.

Similar species: Shorebirds And Allies
Species identified by Thibaud Aronson
View Thibaud Aronson's profile

By Thibaud Aronson

All rights reserved
Uploaded Aug 28, 2019. Captured Aug 24, 2019 17:04 in 3512 Michelson Dr, Irvine, CA 92612, USA.
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II
  • f/10.0
  • 1/1579s
  • ISO640
  • 379mm