African Skimmer
Rynchops flavirostris
The African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) is a rare skimmers, noddies, terns, and gull found in 30 countries, weighing about 164 g. The African skimmer is a species of bird belonging to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae.
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.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria.
When to see it
Best months: January, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an African Skimmer?
- African skimmers have long wings, with a black back, hindneck, and crown. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an African Skimmer?
- The African Skimmer is a medium sized bird weighing about 164 g.
- Where can you see an African Skimmer?
- The African Skimmer occurs in 30 countries, including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
- What birds look similar to an African Skimmer?
- The African Skimmer is most easily confused with the Indian Skimmer and the Black Skimmer.
- Is the African Skimmer endangered?
- The African Skimmer is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the African Skimmer for real
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