Swallow-tailed Gull vs African Skimmer
Creagrus furcatus compared with Rynchops flavirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Swallow-tailed Gull | African Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Creagrus furcatus | Rynchops flavirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 81.8 cm (32.2 in) | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) |
| Weight | 695.0 g (24.52 oz) | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Swallow-tailed Gull
Least Concern
African Skimmer
About These Birds
Swallow-tailed Gull
Swallow-tailed Gull, 55–60 cm, is the world's only fully nocturnal gull, breeding on the Galápagos Islands and roosting on the Humboldt Current. Distinctive red orbital ring, black-and-white head, deeply forked tail. Feeds at sea at night on squid and fish attracted to surface by bioluminescence.
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.