Black Skimmer

The black skimmer is a distinctive bird characterized by its striking black upperparts and white underparts. It has a unique feature of a longer lower mandible compared to the upper one, which it uses to skim the water’s surface while flying to catch fish. Black skimmers are frequently observed perched on sandbars and beaches on remote barrier islands. These birds can be sensitive to disturbances and are threatened by land loss, sea level rise, and oil and gas infrastructure.