European Herring Gull vs African Skimmer
Larus argentatus compared with Rynchops flavirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | European Herring Gull | African Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Larus argentatus | Rynchops flavirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 86.2 cm (33.9 in) | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) |
| Weight | 1110.0 g (39.15 oz) | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
European Herring Gull
Least Concern
African Skimmer
About These Birds
European Herring Gull
European Herring Gull, 55–67 cm, wingspan 125–155 cm, is the archetypal large gull of Atlantic Europe. Silver-grey mantle, white body, yellow bill with red spot, pink legs. Omnivore; scavenges in cities and harbours; drops molluscs to crack shells. Partially migratory; declining in recent decades.
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.