California Gull vs African Skimmer
Larus californicus compared with Rynchops flavirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | California Gull | African Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Larus californicus | Rynchops flavirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 75.4 cm (29.7 in) | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) |
| Weight | 717.5 g (25.31 oz) | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
California Gull
Least Concern
African Skimmer
About These Birds
California Gull
California Gull, 46–55 cm, breeds at inland lakes of western North America and winters on the Pacific coast. Yellow bill with red and black spot, greenish-yellow legs. Omnivore; famous for saving Utah crickets crops in 1848 — commemorated as Utah's state bird. Strongly migratory.
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.