Black Skimmer  Rynchops niger
Black Skimmer  Rynchops niger

A strictly coastal bird of North America, catches small fish dragging its lower bill as it flies over waters throughout the day as well as being a successful nocturnal hunter.  The lower mandible is longer than the upper allowing it to capture prey by touch. 
Nesting colonies on ocean beaches, shell banks and sandy islands are very sensitive to disturbances.  The late 19th century had brought devastation by plume hunters and commercial egg harvesting, although numbers are now recovering.

Copyright Mark Tiefenbach
Deepbrook Nature Photography
Copyright Mark Tiefenbach
Deepbrook Nature Photography