African Skimmer
Rynchops flavirostris
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Caradriformes)
- FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- GenusRynchops (Skimmers)
- SpeciesRynchops flavirostris (African Skimmer)
The African skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) is a species of bird belonging to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae. It is found along rivers, lakes and lagoons in Sub-Saharan Africa. Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a African Skimmer sighting in Ruaha National Park, based on 13 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Ruaha National Park
White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterus
Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
Grey-hooded Gull
Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
White-headed Lapwing
Vanellus albiceps
Water Thick-knee
Burhinus vermiculatus
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Crowned Lapwing
Vanellus coronatus
Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus armatus
Spur-winged Lapwing
Vanellus spinosus
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Spotted Thick-knee
Burhinus capensis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gonarezhou National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 2 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 3 | South Luangwa National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 4 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 5 | Liwonde National Park | 🇲🇼 Malawi | |
| 6 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 7 | Selous Game Reserve | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 8 | Gorongosa National Park | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | |
| 9 | Kafue National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 10 | Lower Zambezi National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 11 | Mana Pools National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 12 | Lake Nakuru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 13 | Ruaha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 14 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 15 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 16 | Hwange National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 17 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 18 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 19 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 20 | Nairobi National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 21 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 22 | Samburu National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 23 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 24 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 25 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a African Skimmer in Ruaha National Park?
About 5% of wildlife watchers report a African Skimmer sighting in Ruaha National Park, based on 13 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see African Skimmer in Ruaha National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for African Skimmer in Ruaha National Park in our monthly data.