Black Tern vs African Skimmer
Chlidonias niger compared with Rynchops flavirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black Tern | African Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlidonias niger | Rynchops flavirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 40.3 cm (15.9 in) | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) |
| Weight | 73.15 g (2.58 oz) | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Black Tern
Least Concern
African Skimmer
About These Birds
Black Tern
Black Tern, 22–24 cm, breeds on freshwater marshes of North America and Eurasia. Breeding plumage: sooty black body, grey wings. Insectivore and piscivore; buoyant, dipping flight over wetlands. Migratory; winters off West African coasts and in tropical America. Declining in Europe.
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.