African Skimmer vs Black Skimmer

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

Medium164 gWetland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: avocat · CC BY 4.0

Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger

Medium298 gRiverine

The black skimmer is the largest of the three skimmer species. It measures 40–50 cm (16–20 in) long with a 107–127 cm (42–50 in) wingspan. This species ranges from 212 to 447 g (7.5 to 15.8 oz), with males averaging about 349 g (12.3 oz), as compared to the smaller females 254 g (9.0 oz). The basal half of the bill is red, the rest mainly black, and the lower mandible is much-elongated. The eye has a dark brown iris and catlike vertical pupil, unique for a bird. The legs are red. The call is a barking kak-kak-kak. Adults in breeding plumage have a black crown, nape and upper body.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ben Gruhot · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Skimmer and Black Skimmer.