Large-billed Tern vs African Skimmer
Phaetusa simplex compared with Rynchops flavirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Large-billed Tern | African Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaetusa simplex | Rynchops flavirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 58.3 cm (23.0 in) | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) |
| Weight | 241.5 g (8.52 oz) | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Large-billed Tern
Least Concern
African Skimmer
About These Birds
Large-billed Tern
Large-billed Tern, 36–38 cm, is a distinctive South American freshwater tern of major river systems including the Amazon, Paraná, and Orinoco. Bold black and white plumage with a massive yellow bill and yellow feet. Piscivore; plunge-dives from height into rivers. Resident in tropical lowlands.
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.