Family Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Near Threatened
African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris)
Taxonomy
French: Bec-en-ciseaux d’Afrique German: Afrikanischer Scherenschnabel Spanish: Rayador africano
Taxonomy:
Rhynchops [sic] flavirostris
Vieillot
, 1816,“Australasie”; error = Senegal
.Distribution:
Major rivers and lakes of Africa S of Sahara, from Senegal E to Sudan and SW Ethiopia and S to extreme N Namibia (R Cunene), N Botswana, basin of R Zambezi and S Mozambique; may have bred in S Egypt (on L Nasser) in 1987. Non-breeding visitor NW to R Gambia and Egyptian stretches of R Nile.
Descriptive notes
36–42 cm; 111–204 g; wingspan c. 106 cm; culmen of male 61–70 mm, of female 51–62 mm. Unmistakable within range. Smaller than congeners; differs from... read more
Voice
Generally vocalizes rather infrequently, most usually in flight and principally around colonies: a... read more
Habitat
Rivers at low water, coastal lagoons, saltpans, open marshes, lakes; less common along coast. Rests... read more
Food and feeding
Fish, e.g. cichlids, up to 8 cm long. Crepuscular and nocturnal, as well as diurnal. Food caught exclusively by skimming the water in... read more
Breeding
Laying generally Mar–Jun in W & E Africa, mainly Jul–Nov S of equator (e.g. Aug–Nov in Botswana); season varies... read more
Movements
Migrates up and down larger rivers, and to and from inland lakes, over distances of up to at least... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Currently considered to be Near Threatened and probably in decline. Recently listed on Appendix 2 of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory... read more
Closely related to R. niger and R. albicollis; some authors have suggested that all three might be conspecific, but good evidence apparently lacking. Monotypic.