A Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego

Anthony S. Cheke; Ruth E. Ashcroft

doi:10.56178/na.v71i.1209

Novel Records Published 11 October 2026 https://doi.org/10.56178/na.v71i.1209

A Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego

Rynchops niger R. n. intercedens R. n. cinerascens southernmost record Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego

Anthony S. Cheke 39 Hurst Street, Oxford OX4 1HE, England, UK

Ruth E. Ashcroft 39 Hurst Street, Oxford OX4 1HE, England, UK

Abstract

We observed a Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) on 23 March 2026 in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Presumably, the same individual was observed and photographed by numerous birders from late February until at least early April, with a probable last sighting in late May, nearly three months after its first record. Clarifying movement patterns at the subspecies level would improve our understanding of the species’ movements in Argentina.

PDF

References

Ávila JM (2023) Avifauna costera urbana estival de Punta Arenas y Puerto Natales, Región de Magallanes, Chile Austral. Revista Chilena de Ornitología 29(1): 29-36
Benegas LG (2007) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S93235827. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 22/7/2026
Bosch K (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S303005232. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026
Centurión L (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S322635752. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026
Costa M (2016) Rayador (Rynchops niger). EcoRegistros: https://www.ecoregistros.org/site/imagen.php?id=335717. Accessed 22/7/2026
Gochfeld M, Burger J, Lefevre KL (2020) Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger), version 1.0. En: Birds of the World, Billerman SM (ed). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blkski.01. Accedido el 17/9/2026
Gómez Carrillo J (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S346594215. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 22/7/2026
Goodenough KS, Finch R, Newstead D, Mariano-Jelicich R, Szczys P (2024) Variable connectivity among Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) populations in North and South America: A population genetics investigation. Waterbirds, 47(1): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1675/063.047.0104
Hacker B (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314882813. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026
Harrison P, Perrow MR, Larsson H (2021) Seabirds: The New Identification Guide. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona
Jaramillo A (2003) Birds of Chile. Princeton University Press, Princeton & Christopher Helm, London
McKay I (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314152724. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026
Narosky T, Yzurieta D (1993) Birds of Argentina & Uruguay: A Field Guide. Vázquez-Mazzini Editorial, Buenos Aires
Ortali S (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S320350477. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026
Pearman M, Areta JI (2020) Birds of Argentina and the South-west Atlantic. Helm, London
Petracci PF, Canevari M, Bremer E (2005) Guía de aves playeras y marinas migratorias del sur de América del Sur. Fundación Vida Silvestre y Escuelas Hermanas de Aves Playeras, Argentina
Pressacco Y (2024) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S206242622. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 22/7/2026
Strycker N & Boyle A (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S303062389. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 24/7/2026
Thomson RF, Vukasovic MA, Estades C (2020) Estado de las poblaciones del Rayador (Rynchops niger) en Chile. Gayana 84(2): 144-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-65382020000200144
Vieira BP, Furness RW, Nager RG (2018) What do we know about Black Skimmers? A review on its annual-cycle and life-history main events, Ardea 106(2): 119-130, https://doi.org/10.5253/arde.v106i2.a4

How to cite

Anthony S. Cheke, Ruth E. Ashcroft (2026). A Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. Nuestras Aves, Vol. 71 (2026). https://doi.org/10.56178/na.v71i.1209

Downloads

0Full-text views

1Formats

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

[1] Ávila JM (2023) Avifauna costera urbana estival de Punta Arenas y Puerto Natales, Región de Magallanes, Chile Austral. Revista Chilena de Ornitología 29(1): 29-36

[2] Benegas LG (2007) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S93235827. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 22/7/2026

[3] Bosch K (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S303005232. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026

[4] Centurión L (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S322635752. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026

[5] Costa M (2016) Rayador (Rynchops niger). EcoRegistros: https://www.ecoregistros.org/site/imagen.php?id=335717. Accessed 22/7/2026

[6] Gochfeld M, Burger J, Lefevre KL (2020) Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger), version 1.0. En: Birds of the World, Billerman SM (ed). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blkski.01. Accedido el 17/9/2026

[7] Gómez Carrillo J (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S346594215. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 22/7/2026

[8] Goodenough KS, Finch R, Newstead D, Mariano-Jelicich R, Szczys P (2024) Variable connectivity among Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) populations in North and South America: A population genetics investigation. Waterbirds, 47(1): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1675/063.047.0104

[9] Hacker B (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314882813. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026

[10] Harrison P, Perrow MR, Larsson H (2021) Seabirds: The New Identification Guide. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona

[11] Jaramillo A (2003) Birds of Chile. Princeton University Press, Princeton & Christopher Helm, London

[12] McKay I (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314152724. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026

[13] Narosky T, Yzurieta D (1993) Birds of Argentina & Uruguay: A Field Guide. Vázquez-Mazzini Editorial, Buenos Aires

[14] Ortali S (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S320350477. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 17/4/2026

[15] Pearman M, Areta JI (2020) Birds of Argentina and the South-west Atlantic. Helm, London

[16] Petracci PF, Canevari M, Bremer E (2005) Guía de aves playeras y marinas migratorias del sur de América del Sur. Fundación Vida Silvestre y Escuelas Hermanas de Aves Playeras, Argentina

[17] Pressacco Y (2024) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S206242622. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 22/7/2026

[18] Strycker N & Boyle A (2026) eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S303062389. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accessed 24/7/2026

[19] Thomson RF, Vukasovic MA, Estades C (2020) Estado de las poblaciones del Rayador (Rynchops niger) en Chile. Gayana 84(2): 144-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-65382020000200144

[20] Vieira BP, Furness RW, Nager RG (2018) What do we know about Black Skimmers? A review on its annual-cycle and life-history main events, Ardea 106(2): 119-130, https://doi.org/10.5253/arde.v106i2.a4