Black-legged Kittiwake vs African Skimmer
Rissa tridactyla compared with Rynchops flavirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-legged Kittiwake | African Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rissa tridactyla | Rynchops flavirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 60.2 cm (23.7 in) | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) |
| Weight | 439.3333333333333 g (15.50 oz) | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Black-legged Kittiwake
Least Concern
African Skimmer
About These Birds
Black-legged Kittiwake
Black-legged Kittiwake, 38–40 cm, wingspan 91–105 cm, is the most abundant gull globally, with millions breeding on cliff ledges across the North Atlantic and Pacific. White body, grey mantle, solid black wing tips, yellow bill, black legs. Pelagic piscivore outside breeding. Vulnerable; declining.
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.