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Black Skimmer

From Opus

(Difference between revisions)
Revision as of 20:11, 18 August 2009 (edit)
Arthurgrosset (Talk | contribs)
(Add External Link)
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Current revision (11:05, 7 November 2009) (edit) (undo)
Deliatodd-18346 (Talk | contribs)
(Photo of perched bird added. Subspecies expanded. Reference)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
-[[Image:Black_Skimmer.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Nick+Richter|Nick Richter}}<br />Photographed in Irvine, [[California]]]]+[[Image:609-06310fg Black Skimmer.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Fort Island Gulf Beach, Crystal River, [[Florida]], March 2009 ]]
;[[:Category:Rynchops|Rynchops]] niger ;[[:Category:Rynchops|Rynchops]] niger
- 
==Identification: == ==Identification: ==
18" (46 cm) 18" (46 cm)
Line 7: Line 6:
*White below *White below
*Red legs *Red legs
-*Bill red with black tip like a blade. Lower mandible much longer, than the upper.+*Bill red with black tip like a blade. Lower mandible much longer, than the upper<br />
- +
'''Immature''' mottled upper appearance, with shorter bill. '''Immature''' mottled upper appearance, with shorter bill.
- 
==Distribution== ==Distribution==
Breeds along Atlantic and Gulf coasts from [[Massachusetts]] and [[Long Island]] to [[Florida]] and [[Texas]]. Winters north to southern [[California]] and [[Virginia]]. Also in American tropics. Breeds along Atlantic and Gulf coasts from [[Massachusetts]] and [[Long Island]] to [[Florida]] and [[Texas]]. Winters north to southern [[California]] and [[Virginia]]. Also in American tropics.
- +[[Image:Black_Skimmer.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Nick+Richter|Nick Richter}}<br />San Diego Creek, Irvine, [[California]], May 2004,]]
==Taxonomy== ==Taxonomy==
-There are 3 subspecies+====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
-* ''R n niger''+There are 3 subspecies:
-* ''R n cinerascens''+*''R. n. niger '':
-* ''R n intercedens''+:*Coastal [[US]] and [[Mexico]]; winters to [[Panama]]
- +*''R. n. cinerascens'':
 +:*Coasts and rivers of northern [[South America]] to [[Bolivia]] and north-western [[Argentina]]
 +*''R. n. intercedens'':
 +:*Eastern [[Brazil]] to [[Paraguay]], [[Uruguay]] and north-eastern [[Argentina]]
==Habitat== ==Habitat==
Breeds chiefly on sandbars and beaches; feeds in shallow bays, inlets, and estuaries. Breeds chiefly on sandbars and beaches; feeds in shallow bays, inlets, and estuaries.
- 
==Behaviour== ==Behaviour==
 +Tight flocks can be seen simultaneously wheeling in one direction and then another.
 +====Diet====
They are mainly surface skimmers (hence the name) tip of the lower mandible cuts through the water. They will also wade in shallow water, jabbing at the fish. They are mainly surface skimmers (hence the name) tip of the lower mandible cuts through the water. They will also wade in shallow water, jabbing at the fish.
- 
-Tight flocks can be seen simultaneously wheeling in one direction and then another.  
====Breeding==== ====Breeding====
3 or 4 brown-blotched buff eggs on bare sand, usually among shell fragments and scattered grass clumps. 3 or 4 brown-blotched buff eggs on bare sand, usually among shell fragments and scattered grass clumps.
Line 34: Line 33:
Short barking notes. Short barking notes.
==Reference== ==Reference==
-eNature+#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#eNature
 +{{ref}}
==External Links== ==External Links==
*[http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/blackskimmer.html Arthur Grosset's Birds] *[http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/blackskimmer.html Arthur Grosset's Birds]

Current revision

Photo by bobsofpaFort Island Gulf Beach, Crystal River, Florida, March 2009
Photo by bobsofpa
Fort Island Gulf Beach, Crystal River, Florida, March 2009
Rynchops niger

Contents

[edit] Identification:

18" (46 cm)

  • Black above
  • White below
  • Red legs
  • Bill red with black tip like a blade. Lower mandible much longer, than the upper

Immature mottled upper appearance, with shorter bill.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds along Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Massachusetts and Long Island to Florida and Texas. Winters north to southern California and Virginia. Also in American tropics.

Photo by Nick RichterSan Diego Creek, Irvine,  California, May 2004,
Photo by Nick Richter
San Diego Creek, Irvine, California, May 2004,

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies[1]

There are 3 subspecies:

  • R. n. niger :
  • R. n. cinerascens:
  • R. n. intercedens:

[edit] Habitat

Breeds chiefly on sandbars and beaches; feeds in shallow bays, inlets, and estuaries.

[edit] Behaviour

Tight flocks can be seen simultaneously wheeling in one direction and then another.

[edit] Diet

They are mainly surface skimmers (hence the name) tip of the lower mandible cuts through the water. They will also wade in shallow water, jabbing at the fish.

[edit] Breeding

3 or 4 brown-blotched buff eggs on bare sand, usually among shell fragments and scattered grass clumps.

They are particularly attracted to the newly-dredged sand-fill areas, which may contain colonies of up to 200 pairs. These sites will be abandoned as soon as too much grass appears.

[edit] Vocalisation

Short barking notes.

[edit] Reference

  1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. eNature

[edit] External Links

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