Skimmers (Rynchopidae)

African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) - HBW 3, p. 677

French: Bec-en-ciseaux d’Afrique German: Afrikanischer Scherenschnabel Spanish: Rayador Africano
Other common names: Scissorbill

Taxonomy: Rhynchops [sic] flavirostris Vieillot, 1816, “Australasie”; error = Senegal.
Forms superspecies with R. niger and R. albicollis; some authorities have suggested that all three might be conspecific, but good evidence apparently lacking. Monotypic.

Distribution: Major rivers and lakes of Africa S of Sahara, from Senegal E to Sudan and SW Ethiopia, and S to extreme N Namibia (R Kunene), N Botswana, basin of R Zambezi and S Mozambique; may have bred on L Nasser, Egypt, in 1987. Non-breeding visitor NW to R Gambia and Egyptian stretches of R Nile.