Skimmers (Rynchopidae)
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) - HBW 3, p. 676
French: Bec-en-ciseaux noir
German: Amerikanischer Scherenschnabel
Spanish: Rayador Americano
Other common names: American Skimmer
Taxonomy: Rynchops nigra Linnaeus, 1758, America = coast of South Carolina.
Forms superspecies with R. flavirostris and R. albicollis; some authorities have suggested that all three might be conspecific, but good evidence apparently lacking. Species name changed from nigra to niger, when all genera ending in -ops were ruled as being of masculine gender. Races cinerascens and intercedens formerly considered to constitute two further species, on account of white, as opposed to dusky, on wing linings and tail, and amount of white edging on secondaries; however, variability of these characters is more consistent with subsp.. View all taxonomy...
Taxonomy: Rynchops nigra Linnaeus, 1758, America = coast of South Carolina.
Forms superspecies with R. flavirostris and R. albicollis; some authorities have suggested that all three might be conspecific, but good evidence apparently lacking. Species name changed from nigra to niger, when all genera ending in -ops were ruled as being of masculine gender. Races cinerascens and intercedens formerly considered to constitute two further species, on account of white, as opposed to dusky, on wing linings and tail, and amount of white edging on secondaries; however, variability of these characters is more consistent with subspecific differentiation. Dubious race intermedia (W South America) normally included within cinerascens; proposed race melanura is synonymous with cinerascens. Three subspecies normally recognized.
Forms superspecies with R. flavirostris and R. albicollis; some authorities have suggested that all three might be conspecific, but good evidence apparently lacking. Species name changed from nigra to niger, when all genera ending in -ops were ruled as being of masculine gender. Races cinerascens and intercedens formerly considered to constitute two further species, on account of white, as opposed to dusky, on wing linings and tail, and amount of white edging on secondaries; however, variability of these characters is more consistent with subspecific differentiation. Dubious race intermedia (W South America) normally included within cinerascens; proposed race melanura is synonymous with cinerascens. Three subspecies normally recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- niger Linnaeus, 1758 - coasts of USA (S California; Massachusetts to Texas) and Mexico (Sonora to Nayarit; Tamaulipas to Yucatán Peninsula); winters from California and North Carolina S to both coasts of Panama.
- cinerascens Spix, 1825 - coasts of Colombia to mouth of R Amazon and W Ecuador (Gulf of Guayaquil), and large river systems (especially Orinoco and Amazon) S to Bolivia and NW Argentina; winters on coasts, from Ecuador to S Chile, and from Panama to Trinidad and NC Brazil.
- intercedens Saunders, 1895 - large rivers of E Brazil (W to Maranhão and E Mato Grosso), E Paraguay, Uruguay and NE Argentina (S to Bahía Blanca); winters mainly on coast.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A view of several chicks in the nest and one egg, in a small colony. Locality Fazenda Praia Alta, Tocantins State, Brazil (ssp cinerascens)
Josep del Hoyo 4 August 2011 50 weeks ago 43 sec 5 -
A winter adult on the beach calling several times. Locality Ventura, Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp niger)
Don DesJardin 15 January 2009 4 years ago 41 sec 4.7 -
part of a big group sitting on the beach, walking away for the upcoming sea Locality Albufera de Medio Mundo, Lima Department, Peru (ssp cinerascens)
Wim ten Have 2 April 2011 9 weeks ago 21 sec 4.6 -
A bird skimming and landing Locality Flanders Bay, Long Island, New York, USA (United States) (ssp niger)
Curt Kessler 31 August 2006 5 years ago 21 sec 4.6 -
A preening bird on a small sandbank. Locality Rio Lagartos, Yucatán State, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico (Southern) (ssp niger)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 27 July 2005 6 years ago 30 sec 4.6 -
Several birds skimming in a canal Locality Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island, Maryland, USA (United States) (ssp niger)
Robert Schaefer 20 August 2007 5 years ago 18 sec 4.5
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Adult winter
Locality Bunche Beach Preserve (San Carlos Bay), Lee County, Florida, USA (United States) (ssp niger)
Paul Cools 7 February 2010 31 weeks ago 4.5 -
in flight
Locality Puerto de Lomas, Arequipa Department, Peru
Lior Kislev 14 December 2009 1 year ago 4.5 -
Adult bird feeding by uniquely skimming over the water with the lower beak under water.
Locality Hato El Cedral, Apure State, Venezuela
Lutz Dürselen 12 February 2011 2 years ago 4.4 -
reflecting image, wading with gulls and terns
Locality Flamingos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, La Guajira Department, Colombia
Hector Ceballos-Lascurain 21 September 2012 36 weeks ago 4.2 -
Lake skimming
Locality Inírida, Guainía Department, Colombia
mauricio rueda 16 weeks ago 4 -
An adult bird flying low over a beach.
Locality Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA (United States) (ssp niger)
David Beadle 28 May 2010 21 weeks ago 4
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Several adults calling (nasal calls) in flight, near the colony. Locality Fazenda Praia Alta, Tocantins State, Brazil
(ssp cinerascens)
Josep del Hoyo 4 August 2011 50 weeks ago 4 -
Calls in flight. Locality Tocantins State, Brazil
(Monotypic species)
Ciro Albano 5 July 2008 4 years ago 3 -
Click to play
Bird standing on the sand of river beach and vocalizing nervously with our approach in a canoe. Locality Fazenda Barra Mansa, Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil
Antonio Silveira 1 June 2005 44 weeks ago 0
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