Black Skimmer, c. 1849 by M. Charles d’Orbigny

Black Skimmer, by M. Charles d’Orbigny A black skimmer stands on a riverbank, its striking two-toned bill—black above, orange below—held level as it watches the water beyond. Native to warm coastal shorelines, the species is named for its habit of skimming the surface with its lower mandible to catch small fish. This plate appeared in the Dictionnaire Universel d’Histoire Naturelle, the vast natural-history compilation edited by Charles d’Orbigny.

Artist: M. Charles d’Orbigny (French, 1806-1876). Date: 1849 (Dictionnaire Universel d’Histoire Naturelle, atlas volumes).

Black Skimmer, by M. Charles d’Orbigny. Naturalist Wall Art Canvas Print.