Photo: Malcolm Macgregor / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
African Skimmer
Rynchops flavirostris
African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) is a member of the Laridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 164 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Rynchops
- Species flavirostris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 164 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Skimmer hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The African Skimmer is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF tropical African rivers.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 164 g, with a wing length of about 33.2 cm and a tail of around 11 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Skimmer?
The African Skimmer is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 164 g.
Where does the African Skimmer live?
The African Skimmer is found across Africa with a range covering AF tropical African rivers, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the African Skimmer belong to?
The African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the African Skimmer eat?
The African Skimmer hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the African Skimmer migrate?
The African Skimmer is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the African Skimmer endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the African Skimmer make?
1 real field recording of the African Skimmer — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the African Skimmer's range?
The African Skimmer has a mapped global range of about 9.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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