Rynchops niger
Linnaeus, 1758
Black Skimmer
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Medium - lowThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105078
Element CodeABNNM14010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyLaridae
GenusRynchops
Other Common Names
Bec-en-ciseaux noir (FR) Rayador Americano (ES) Talha-Mar-Preto (PT)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-12-26
Change Date1996-11-27
Edition Date2024-12-26
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2024)
Threat ImpactMedium - low
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
This species is widespread throughout the Americas. Some populations, especially breeding populations in the United States, are declining. Threats impacting this species include declining quantity and quality of habitat, and disturbance by humans.
Range Extent Comments
This species is found throughout the Americas (Gochfeld et al. 2020). Many populations, particularly those in inland South America, are resident. Populations in the United States can be migratory, resident, or nomadic.
Breeding range: southern California (Salton Sea, around San Diego); along coast from Sonora to Nayarit, México; on Pacific coast of South America in Ecuador; locally from Massachusetts (Plymouth), New York (Long Island), and New Jersey south to southeastern Florida; along Gulf Coast from southwestern Florida to Tabasco, México; along the Atlantic coast of South America; and along some of the larger rivers from Colombia to northern Argentina. Most of the U.S. breeding population occurs along Gulf Coast (mainly Louisiana and Texas).
Nonbreeding range: coastlines on both sides of the continent from the southern U.S. to southern South America.
Breeding range: southern California (Salton Sea, around San Diego); along coast from Sonora to Nayarit, México; on Pacific coast of South America in Ecuador; locally from Massachusetts (Plymouth), New York (Long Island), and New Jersey south to southeastern Florida; along Gulf Coast from southwestern Florida to Tabasco, México; along the Atlantic coast of South America; and along some of the larger rivers from Colombia to northern Argentina. Most of the U.S. breeding population occurs along Gulf Coast (mainly Louisiana and Texas).
Nonbreeding range: coastlines on both sides of the continent from the southern U.S. to southern South America.
Occurrences Comments
There are many populations throughout the range (Gochfeld et al. 2020).
Threat Impact Comments
Disturbance by humans along beaches and river sandbars reduces nesting success and can cause partial or complete abandonment of nesting sites (Gochfeld et al. 2020). Sea-level rise is shrinking the amount of coastal nesting habitat, and increasing the frequency of coastal flooding during the breeding season (Quadery et al. 2021, Krebs et al. 2023). Coastal development, particularly in Florida, is reducing the quantity and quality of coastal habitat (Gochfeld et al. 2020). Hurricanes can reduce impacted populations (Raynor et al. 2013). Human predation on eggs poses a threat to accessible colonies in South America (Hilty and Brown 1986, Gochfeld et al. 2020). Dams along occupied rivers can flood sandbars used as nesting sites (Gochfeld et al. 2020).
Ecology & Habitat
Description
A slim waterbird with a red, black-tipped bill and red legs; lower mandible is much longer than the upper; crown, back, and most of upperside of wings are black in adults, mottled dingy brown in juveniles; forehead, cheeks, and underparts are white, except the mostly dark primaries and secondaries; browner in winter, with a white collar; average length 46 cm, wingspan 112 cm (NGS 1983).
Diagnostic Characteristics
No other North American bird normally has the lower mandible longer than the upper.
Habitat
Primarily coastal waters, including bays, estuaries, lagoons and mudflats in migration and winter (AOU 1983); also quiet waters of rivers and lakes (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Rest on mudflats, sandbars, beaches.
Nests primarily near coasts on sandy beaches, shell banks, coastal and estuary islands, on wrack and drift of salt marshes (especially where traditional beach nesting areas have been lost or where Herring gulls have become abundant), along tropical rivers, salt pond levees (southern California), and locally, on gravelly rooftops; also on dredged material sites. Nests usually in association with or near terns. See Spendelow and Patton (1988) for further details.
Nests primarily near coasts on sandy beaches, shell banks, coastal and estuary islands, on wrack and drift of salt marshes (especially where traditional beach nesting areas have been lost or where Herring gulls have become abundant), along tropical rivers, salt pond levees (southern California), and locally, on gravelly rooftops; also on dredged material sites. Nests usually in association with or near terns. See Spendelow and Patton (1988) for further details.
Ecology
Roosts in flocks of up to 100s or 1000s. Forages up to 5.2-8 kilometers from colony (summarized in Gochfeld and Burger 1994).
Reproduction
Clutch size usually is 4-5. Incubation is by both sexes. Young are tended by both parents. Colony size ranges up to about 1000 along the mid-Atlantic coast, up to 3000-5000 in Louisiana (Spendelow and Patton 1988).
Terrestrial Habitats
Sand/dune
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5B,N5N
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | S2B,S1N | Yes |
| Louisiana | S3 | Yes |
| New York | S2 | Yes |
| Texas | S2B | Yes |
| Maryland | S1B | Yes |
| Mississippi | S2B,S3N | Yes |
| South Carolina | S2 | Yes |
| California | S2 | Yes |
| Delaware | S1B,S2N | Yes |
| Massachusetts | S1B,S1N | Yes |
| Alabama | S2B,S4N | Yes |
| North Carolina | S2B,S3N | Yes |
| Rhode Island | S1N | Yes |
| New Jersey | S1B,S1N | Yes |
| Florida | S3 | Yes |
| Georgia | S1 | Yes |
| Connecticut | SNA | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Restricted - small | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 1.1 - Housing & urban areas | Small (1-10%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 1.3 - Tourism & recreation areas | Restricted - small | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 6 - Human intrusions & disturbance | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 6.1 - Recreational activities | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 7.2 - Dams & water management/use | Small (1-10%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 7.3 - Other ecosystem modifications | Small (1-10%) | Serious - slight | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (15)
California (11)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Camuesa | Los Padres National Forest | 8,209 |
| Malduce Buckhorn | Los Padres National Forest | 14,177 |
| Santa Cruz | Los Padres National Forest | 21,182 |
| Santa Cruz | Los Padres National Forest | 21,182 |
| Tequepis | Los Padres National Forest | 9,080 |
| Tequepis | Los Padres National Forest | 9,080 |
| Trabuco | Cleveland National Forest | 23,341 |
| Trabuco | Cleveland National Forest | 23,341 |
| Wildhorse | Cleveland National Forest | 1,483 |
| Wildhorse | Cleveland National Forest | 1,483 |
| Wildhorse | Cleveland National Forest | 1,483 |
North Carolina (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Pocosin Addition | Croatan National Forest | 286 |
| Pocosin Addition | Croatan National Forest | 286 |
South Carolina (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Wambaw Ext | Francis Marion National Forest | 527 |
| Wambaw Ext | Francis Marion National Forest | 527 |
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