African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

The African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) is a distinctive bird with a unique feeding behavior. It has a black cap, white underparts, and a long, slender orange bill with a lower mandible longer than the upper. This species is known for its remarkable method of foraging, flying low over water with its bill open, skimming the surface to catch small fish. African Skimmers are typically found in large rivers, lakes, and coastal lagoons across sub-Saharan Africa. They are social birds, often seen in small flocks. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss and disturbance, the African Skimmer is facing population declines in some areas.

Habitat: Rivers, lakes, coastal lagoons

African Skimmer
© Guus Gorter · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
African Skimmer
African Skimmer
African Skimmer
African Skimmer
African Skimmer

Tours where you can spot this bird

16 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Tour
16 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Tour
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 16 days | 0h

Fixed-date Uganda birding and wildlife photography tour with Shoebill, Murchison Falls, Budongo, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mb...

From 5492.00 USD Next: 2027-09-04
8-Day Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Birding Safari
8-Day Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Birding Safari
Uganda / Queen Elizabeth National Park Private tour 8 days | 0h

An eight-day Uganda birding safari combining Queen Elizabeth savanna/Kazinga Channel and Bwindi montane forest birding....

From 0.00 USD
Private Victoria Falls and Zambezi Birding with Kirsten Keun
Private Victoria Falls and Zambezi Birding with Kirsten Keun
Zimbabwe / Victoria Falls Private tour 0h

Flexible private birding around Victoria Falls and the wider Zambezi region with southern African birding specialist Kirsten Keun, subject t...

From 0.00 ZAR
16 Days Central, Northern and Western Kenya Birding
16 Days Central, Northern and Western Kenya Birding
Kenya / Nairobi Private tour 16 days | 0h

Kenya birding route through Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Kakamega, Kisumu, Masai Mara, Naivasha and Kinangop....

From 3767.00 USD
14 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Safari
14 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 14 days | 0h

Uganda western circuit birding and wildlife photography route with Mabamba, Budongo, Kibale, Semuliki, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mbur...

From 4880.00 USD
Warblers & Pachyderms, a Birding Safari with Natural History
Warblers & Pachyderms, a Birding Safari with Natural History
Namibia / Windhoek Private tour 21 days | 0h

A private 21-day birding and nature-photography journey from northern Namibia through the Okavango and Zambezi regions to Victoria Falls....

From 0.00 EUR
Private Uganda Birding with Alex Gabiito
Private Uganda Birding with Alex Gabiito
Uganda / Bwindi Private tour 1 day | 0h

Private Uganda birding guidance with Alex Gabiito of African Skimmer Tours, covering Bwindi, Mabamba, Budongo, Kibale, Semuliki, Murchison F...

From 0.00 USD
Southern Africa Birding Expedition: Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls
Southern Africa Birding Expedition: Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls
Namibia / Walvis Bay Group tour 18 days | 0h

This birdwatching journey through Namibia, the Okavango Delta, and Victoria Falls combines southern Africa’s most iconic landscapes with e...

From 10206.00 USD