Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
RYNCHOPIDAE - SKIMMERS
A single Neotropical species occurs in Paraguay. Skimmers are pantropical in distribution and all are characterised by being mostly black above and white below with brightly-coloured bills and legs. The wings are long and pointed and the feet are small and webbed on the front three toes. The most conspicuous character is the unique and remarkable bill. The upper mandible is shorter than the lower and forms a narrow oval in cross section. The elongated lower mandible is deep and laterally-compressed. This design is necessary for the bizarre "skimming" feeding method that these birds employ. They fly low over the water with the upper mandible raised and lower slicing the water surface. It snaps shot when a prey item is contacted, the head being drawn downwards and backwards to reduce shock and enable the upper mandible to snap shut. Such a tactile feeding method means that they can and do continue to forage after dark. This feeding method leaves the lower mandible open to frequent abrasion and damage, but this is compensated for by the fact that the rhamphotheca grows rapidly. Another unique character of this family is that the pupil closes to a slit in bright light. Skimmers are gregarious birds and colonial breeders, laying in unlined hollows on sandbanks. Chicks are cryptically-coloured and have mandibles of equal length. Flocks are frequently seen "loafing" together often with terns. Females are smaller than males.
REFERENCES
Campbell B & Lack E 1985 - A Dictionary of Birds - T & AD Poyser.
