African Skimmer

The African skimmer, Rynchops flavirostris, is a striking bird with an elegant silhouette. It possesses long wings and a contrasting plumage of black on the back, hindneck, and crown, while the forehead and the remainder of the body are a pristine white. The species is named for its vibrant, elongated orange beak, tipped with yellow in adults and black in immature birds. This avian's short, forked tail is white, and it stands on bright red legs. An average African skimmer measures approximately 38 cm in length. Its call is a distinctive sharp "kip-kip."

Identification Tips

When identifying the African skimmer, look for its unique bill structure, where the lower mandible extends significantly beyond the upper, resembling the blades of scissors. This adaptation is key to its feeding strategy. The bird's red legs and long orange beak with a yellow tip are also characteristic identifiers.

Habitat

African skimmers are found in habitats that include large tropical rivers with sandbanks suitable for nesting and roosting, lake shores, and coastal lagoons.

Distribution

This species ranges from Senegal to the northern Congo River and the southern Nile Valley, extending through southern Tanzania to the Zambezi Valley, and reaching as far as KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa and Angola.

Behaviour

Skimmers are known for their unique feeding behavior, flying in lines over calm waters and skimming the surface with their elongated lower mandible. Upon contact with a fish, they snap their beaks shut. They are primarily crepuscular, feeding mostly at dawn and dusk, and are equipped with excellent night vision.

Reproduction

The African skimmer nests in loose colonies on large sandbanks, typically with fewer than 50 pairs. Each pair lays 2 to 3, occasionally 4, eggs in a simple scrape in the sand. These colonies are sometimes intermixed with other sandbank-nesting birds such as the collared pratincole, pied avocet, and white-fronted plover.

Movements

These birds are partial intra-African migrants, arriving in southern Africa with the onset of the dry season, around April to June. They return northwards after breeding, coinciding with the rivers rising at the start of the rainy season, from November to January.

Diet and Feeding

The African skimmer's diet consists of various fish species, including Micralestes, Tilapia, Barbus, Marcusenius, Hepsetus, Aplocheilichthys, and Petrocephalus.

Conservation status

The African skimmer is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated total population of 15,000 to 25,000 individuals. However, as with all wildlife, monitoring and conservation efforts are essential to ensure its continued survival.