S. TATUS. Therefore, the IUCN Red List has the species listed under "Least Concern." Black skimmers may travel up to 5 miles away from nesting site to find food; Migration. Its bill—brightly colored, laterally compressed, and knife-like, with the lower mandible extending beyond the maxilla—is uniquely adapted to catch small fish in shallow water. N. EW . The Black Skimmer, one of North America's most distinctive coastal waterbirds, is noted for its unusual voice, bill, and feeding behavior. L. EGAL . Range: Post-breeding migration This map depicts the range boundary, defined as the areas where the species is estimated to occur at a rate of 5% or more for at least one week within the post-breeding migration season. Long, slim wings are dark above and silver-gray below. Bright red bill with black tip, lower mandible longer than upper. News, updates, information and insights about Birding on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. obs.). Plymouth Beach is the southern most location for nesting Arctic Terns and the northern most for Black Skimmer. influence black skimmer ecology. Migration: Considered a permanent resident in warmer parts of its range, including along the Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic Coast in North America. Arrive late April – early May, leave October – November; One small colony settles farther north in Massachusetts S. TATE . Interactive eBird Map: Click to access an interactive eBird map of Black Skimmer sightings Song: The typical call of a Black Skimmer is a soft yelping yip. Tail is white with black central feathers. ... "Migration Productions presentations are stunning; their images reflect avian form and function in ways that are both graphic and artistic. DISTRIBUTION: In Texas, the breeding range of the Black Skimmer extends for over 800 km (500 mi) along the Gulf Coast. Skimmers apparently cross large land masses during fall migration because some birds banded as juveniles in Texas were recovered on the Pacific Coast of Mexico and Guatemala (D. H. White, pers. (Burger and Gochfeld, 1990; "Dow Black Skimmer Colony", 2006) Conservation Status. Legs, feet are red. ("The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", 2006) Black skimmers are abundant and not in any serious danger of decline. Long Island is the upper limit of the breeding range for black skimmers, which extends from Connecticut to North Carolina. Black Skimmer: Odd-looking, tern-like bird with black upperparts and white underparts. Additionally, this plan provides a series of management, research, and outreach actions that can be taken to foster sustainable nesting colonies of breeding black skimmer along New York’s coast. Black skimmers are also protected by the US Migratory Bird Act. Direct flight. Y. ORK .