Black Skimmer

 The black skimmer is the only member of the skimmer family found in the America's. They are primarily found in South America but some do live in the warm coastal waters of Central America and along the gulf coast of North America. If you look closely at the picture above you may notice that the bottom portion of this birds beak extends out further then the top. This is not an injured bird this is the way that skimmer beaks grow. When they hatch the top and bottom portion of their beaks are the same size but as they begin to grow the bottom portion grows longer then the top. The skimmer uses this adaptation to hunt. They primarily eat small fish which they catch by flying low over the water and extending the lower portion of their beak into the water. When the lower portion hits a fish they snap the upper part of the beak down on it and catch it. Because this form of fishing relies manly on touch the black skimmer often hunts at dusk or dawn and may even hunt into the night. Their are two other skimmers in the world the African and Indian skimmer. All skimmers hunt in the same manner. The black Skimmer is the largest of the three. This photo was taken at South Padre Island in south east Texas.