African Skimmer vs Chinese Crested Tern
Rynchops flavirostris compared with Thalasseus bernsteini
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Skimmer | Chinese Crested Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rynchops flavirostris | Thalasseus bernsteini |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 66.4 cm (26.1 in) | 63.8 cm (25.1 in) |
| Weight | 165.66666666666666 g (5.84 oz) | 280.0 g (9.88 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-5 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
African Skimmer
Critically Endangered
Chinese 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.
Chinese Crested Tern
Chinese Crested Tern is Critically Endangered, fewer than 50 individuals known. Breeding sites on small rocky islands off eastern China; winters in Southeast Asia. Orange bill with yellow tip, black crest. Extremely similar to Greater Crested Tern; often overlooked in mixed colonies. Piscivore; plunge-dives.