African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris Vieillot, 1816

38 cmLength164 gWeight

The African skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) is a species of bird belonging to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae.

Busiest months: September–November · Most records: Botswana, Uganda, Zambia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: September–November · Most records: Botswana, Uganda, Zambia

African Skimmer has been recorded at 144 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 22 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Chobe River – boat tripBotswana348 records
  2. Queen Elizabeth II NP – Kazinga Channel Boat TripUganda323 records
  3. Murchison Falls NP – Boat trip Paraa to Murchison FallsUganda223 records
More places
  1. Okavango Delta – Xaro LodgeBotswana213 records
  2. Zambezi river cruiseZimbabwe164 records
  3. Chobe River – west of KasaneBotswana154 records
  4. Drotsky's CabinsBotswana133 records
  5. Lake Nakuru NPKenya133 records
  6. Mahangu Safari LodgeNamibia126 records
  7. Caprivi Houseboat LodgeNamibia118 records

Countries and regions with the most records

BotswanaUgandaZambiaNamibiaZimbabweKenyaSouth AfricaMalawi

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The African skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) 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.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the African Skimmer?

The African Skimmer is about 38 cm long and weighs around 164 g.

Where does the African Skimmer live?

Its breeding range: Africa: tropical African rivers. It is most often recorded in Botswana, Uganda and Zambia.

When is the best time to see the African Skimmer?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in September, October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the African Skimmer endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the African Skimmer as Least Concern.

What does the African Skimmer eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the African Skimmer in?

It belongs to the family Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae), order Charadriiformes.

At a glance

Length
38 cm
Weight
164 g
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
332 mm
Tail
110 mm
Bill
84 mm
Tarsus
28 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: tropical African rivers

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Genus
Rynchops

Other birds in the genus Rynchops

Indian SkimmerIndian SkimmerRynchops albicollisBlack SkimmerBlack SkimmerRynchops nigerAtlantic White TernAtlantic White TernGygis albaLittle White TernLittle White TernGygis microrhynchaBrown NoddyBrown NoddyAnous stolidusLesser NoddyLesser NoddyAnous tenuirostrisBlack NoddyBlack NoddyAnous minutusGrey NoddyGrey NoddyAnous albivittaBlue NoddyBlue NoddyAnous ceruleusAleutian TernAleutian TernOnychoprion aleuticus
African Skimmer

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Stephen John Davies. ↗

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