African Skimmer vs Lesser Crested Tern
Rynchops flavirostris compared with Thalasseus bengalensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Skimmer | Lesser Crested Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rynchops flavirostris | Thalasseus bengalensis |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) | 58.6 cm (23.1 in) |
| Weight | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) | 212.25 g (7.49 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-5 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
African Skimmer
Least Concern
Lesser Crested Tern
About These Birds
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.
Lesser Crested Tern
Lesser Crested Tern, 35–37 cm, breeds colonially on islands across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, from Red Sea to Australia. Orange bill, black crest, grey mantle. Coastal piscivore; plunge-dives in tropical waters. Gregarious; often nests with Greater Crested Terns.