Black skimmer  (Rynchops niger)

The black skimmer occurs throughout the Americas, from the United States, through Mexico and Central America, and south into much of South America (9). R. n. niger is the most northerly subspecies, found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, south through Mexico and into Panama. A western population also breeds from southern California to Mexico (2) (5). R. n. cinerascens is found in northern South America and R. n. intercedens in southern South America (2) (3) (5). The species is migratory, with northern populations moving southwards during the winter, and southern populations sometimes wintering on the coast or moving to Central America or the Caribbean (2) (5) (8).

R. n. niger feeds mainly in coastal waters that are protected from open surf, such as in estuaries, bays, tidal pools, inlets and creeks. Nesting occurs on sandy beaches, sandbars, islands, shell banks, dredge islands and salt marsh, and the species may also occasionally be found on inland lakes (2) (5) (8). The two southern subspecies nest mainly along sandbars and beaches of inland rivers, at times when water levels are lowest, and also use coastal beaches, lagoons, islands and estuaries (2) (3) (5). The black skimmer has been recorded at elevations of up to 3,800 metres on the shore of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia (2).