Skimmer (seabird) Species and Ranges:
- Black Skimmer (Rhynchops niger)
- Breed in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific coasts, but the South American races make only shorter movements.
- African Skimmer (Rhynchops flavirostris)
- Found in the African countries of Senegal to northern Congo River and southern Nile Valley, southern Tanzania to the Zambezi Valley, and then to Natal and Angola.
- Indian Skimmer (Rhynchops albicollis)
- Found in southern Asia.
Description / Feeding
These tern-like birds have elongated lower beaks.
They mostly feed on fish by flying low over the water surface skimming the water with the lower beak for small fish.
Nesting / Breeding
The average clutch consists of 3 – 6 eggs laid on sandy beaches. The female alone incubates the eggs.
