Black Skimmers
A Unique Kiawah Resident
by Chris Sudell
One of the most fascinating sights on Kiawah’s
beach is a black skimmer flying low over the ocean in
search of its next meal. Its long wings held high above
its body, it bends its head low and dredges the long lower
portion of its black and red bill through the water. The
only bird in the Americas in which the lower part of the
bill (lower mandible) is longer than the top, the black
skimmer uses its unusual “under bite” to catch small fish
and crustaceans. As it skims across the surface of the
water, its submerged lower mandible feels for food. Once
it senses a fish, it quickly snaps down its top mandible to
capture its prey. Because it relies on its sense of touch,
rather than sight, to find its food, the skimmer does not
need light to find its meals and occasionally feeds at night.
Unlike many of Kiawah’s seabirds, black
skimmers aren’t always easy to spot. Although they can
sometimes be seen anywhere along Kiawah’s beach,
black skimmers are not as numerous as many of the
Island’s birds. The best place to find them is at the west
end of the Island near Captain Sam’s Inlet. According to
Aaron Given, Town of Kiawah Island wildlife biologist,
approximately 50 to 60 black skimmers have been
roosting there in recent years. Another good place to look
for them is at the east end of the Island, past The Ocean
Course. To increase your chances, go at dawn or dusk, as
these are the skimmers’ favorite feeding times.
In flight, the black skimmer is a graceful creature.
Its long, narrow wings, which have a span up to two
and a half times its body length, enable it to perform
impressive aeronautical feats. Groups of skimmers
sometimes synchronize their flights, swooping and gliding
in unison, painting a dramatic picture against the sky. At
rest, though, the black skimmer has a somewhat ungainly
appearance. A medium-sized bird of 16-20 inches in
length, it has a large bill and short legs, making it look
a bit unbalanced. And then there are its unique vertical
Photograph courtesy of Paul Roberts
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