Skimmers Rhynchopidae
All three species within this family are grouped into a single genus. The Indian Skimmer Rhynchops albicollis is listed as vulnerable and the African Skimmer Rhynchops flavirostris is near-threatened. Some authors lump the gulls (Laridae), terns (Sternidae), and skimmers (Rhynchopidae) into a single "Laridae" family. To further complicate matters, because all three species of skimmers are closely related, some authors have considered them all one species!

Rhynchops

There are 3 species within this genus.

The Black Skimmer Rhynchops niger is a wide ranging neotropical species that is found from the coastal United States, south to northeastern Argentina and Uruguay. Black Skimmers are social birds, often nesting and roosting in large colonies. This bird was photographed at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, near Huntington Beach, California.




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