Adult Black Skimmers are a medium-sized to large waterbird with a long red and black bill, the lower half being the longest. They also possess a black back and cap, white underparts, very short red legs, and long, pointed wings. Juveniles are similar to adults, but have a mottled black-and-white back and head.

References cited in Species Profile

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2015. Black Skimmer. All About Birds. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Skimmer/lifehistory
• Downing, R. L. 1973. A preliminary nesting survey of Least Terns and Black Skimmers in the East. Am. Birds 27:974-979.
• Gochfeld, Michael and Joanna Burger. 1994. Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/108
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 2015. Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) Conservation Management Plan. http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/blskmgt2015.pdf