Sooty Tern vs African Skimmer
Onychoprion fuscatus compared with Rynchops flavirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sooty Tern | African Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onychoprion fuscatus | Rynchops flavirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 56.1 cm (22.1 in) | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) |
| Weight | 183.0 g (6.46 oz) | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Sooty Tern
Least Concern
African Skimmer
About These Birds
Sooty Tern
Sooty Tern is a highly pelagic tern, 33–36 cm, wingspan 82–94 cm, breeding pantropically on oceanic islands. Jet-black above, white below, with a white forehead patch. Among the most aerial of birds; rarely lands on water. Piscivore; snaps fish and squid at the surface during mass prey events.
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.