Grey Gull vs African Skimmer
Larus modestus compared with Rynchops flavirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey Gull | African Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Larus modestus | Rynchops flavirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) |
| Weight | 325.0 g (11.46 oz) | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Grey Gull
Least Concern
African Skimmer
About These Birds
Grey Gull
Grey Gull, 45–48 cm, breeds in the Atacama Desert of Chile, one of the driest places on earth, nesting far from the coast. Uniform grey body, white head in breeding plumage. Each night adults fly 70–100 km to Humboldt Current coast to feed on fish and invertebrates before returning to chicks.
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.