White-winged Tern vs African Skimmer
Chlidonias leucopterus compared with Rynchops flavirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-winged Tern | African Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlidonias leucopterus | Rynchops flavirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.6 cm (16.4 in) | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) |
| Weight | 60.5 g (2.13 oz) | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
White-winged Tern
Least Concern
African Skimmer
About These Birds
White-winged Tern
White-winged Tern, 20–23 cm, breeds in wetlands from Eastern Europe to Central Asia and winters in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Australia. Breeding male: jet-black body contrasting with white wings. Insectivore; dips over marshes and rice paddies. Long-distance migrant.
African Skimmer
African Skimmer: 36–42 cm, black-and-white skimmer with a long bright orange-yellow bill where the lower mandible is longer than the upper. Flies low over large rivers and lakes, cutting the water surface with the lower bill to catch fish. Resident and partial migrant along large rivers and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa. NT.