Learn what every symbol on the card means.Full credits and sources at beakbrain.com/symbols
WetlandScrapeMedium · 164 g
ID tip
African skimmers have long wings, with a black back, hindneck, and crown. The forehead and rest of the body is white, with a bright, long, orange beak that ends with a yellow tip (black tip when immature), hence the specific name flavirostris, "yellow-beak". Their short forked tail is white, and their legs are bright red. The average size is about 38 cm (15 in) long. Their voice is a sharp "kip-kip". Their bill structure is unique; the lower mandible is much longer than the upper mandible, and is flattened sideways like scissor blades.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the African Skimmer
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 8 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the African Skimmer
The map shades 26 countries with regular records, and 4 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria.
About the African Skimmer
The African skimmer is a species of bird belonging to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae. It is found along rivers, lakes and lagoons in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Indian SkimmerRynchops albicollisThis bird has a black cap and orange bill that contrasts with the white body.
Black SkimmerRynchops nigerThe black skimmer is the largest of the three skimmer species.
Side by side: African Skimmer vs Black Skimmer
Learn the African Skimmer in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.