Birds of North America
Puzzle 64 · Along Beaches and Mudflats · Page 90 in print
Black Skimmer
A Black Skimmer flies with its longer lower bill cutting through the water. When that bill touches a fish, the upper bill snaps shut.
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The words
Barking Calls
Soft sounds accompanying some warnings.
Bay Anchovy
A small fish prey.
Calm Water
Light winds and smooth water favor feeding.
Flounder
A fish prey.
Gape
The reddish interior revealed when the bill opens in warning.
Lower Bill
The longer bill portion slices through water while fishing.
Menhaden
A schooling fish in the diet.
Sharksucker
A named fish food.
Shell Bars
Raised shelly ground used for nesting.
Silversides
Fish recorded in the diet.
Smelt
A small fish eaten by skimmers.
Snapping
The upper bill closes when the lower bill touches prey.
Tandem Flight
Newly formed pairs sometimes fly together.
Upstrokes
Long upward wingbeats help keep the wings clear of water.
Wing Flagging
A male display associated with mating.
Sources
- Black Skimmer: Life HistoryCornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black Skimmer: IdentificationCornell Lab of Ornithology