309:
82:
57:
424:
393:
254:
467:). The birds tend to incubate the eggs more during the cooler hours of the day and are often away from the nest during the hotter parts of the day. Incubating adults are said to indulge in belly-soaking behaviour to cool the eggs. A bird at nest was once observed to pick up (and drop into water) an intruding chick of a
261:
This bird has a black cap and orange bill that contrasts with the white body. With its long wings it looks tern-like and is about 40–43 cm long with a wingspan of 108 cm. The upper parts of the body are dark black and the underparts are white. The black cap on the head leaves the forehead
328:
It is found on large rivers and lakes, swamps and coastal wetlands such as estuaries. It is most common on freshwater, particularly during the breeding season. Breeding colonies are on islands or sandy spits, usually in rivers. Its range has become increasingly fragmented in recent decades. It is
431:
The birds forage for food by flying low over the water with the bill open and the lower mandible skimming through the water. When a fish is encountered, it moves up the lower mandible and the bird raises the upper mandible and snaps it with a movement of the head. They forage in small flocks and
270:
which is longer than the upper mandible. The legs and feet are red. The lower bill is knife-like and flexible and the tip appears truncated. Young birds have bills that appear normal and with age the lower mandible grows. The upper mandible is capable of considerable mobility.
454:
is a simple scrape on the ground mainly on open sand banks that provide unobstructed views of any oncoming predators. The eggs are buff or white with brown blotches and streaks. There are three to five eggs in a clutch. They may indulge in a low-level of inter-specific
240:
in the family
Laridae. They are somewhat tern-like but like other skimmers, have a short upper mandible and the longer lower mandible that is ploughed along the surface of water as the bird flies over the water to pick aquatic prey. It is found in southern
479:
The species was formerly widely distributed in the rivers of the Indian subcontinent and along the river systems of
Myanmar and Mekong. Records from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam are mainly from the 19th century and recent records are rare.
38:
1074:
Harmand, F. J. (1878-1879) Les Laos et les populations sauvages de l'Indochine. Tour de Monde 38(965-967): 1-48, 39(1006-1010): 214-370 (1997 translation Laos and the hill tribes of
Indochina. Bangkok: White
389:. They are more widespread in winter and are found in coastal estuaries of western and eastern India as far south as Karwar on the western coast and; Chennai and Pondicherry on the eastern coast exist.
656:
415:. Sand banks are important for the nesting of Gharials. They have also been documented as breeding on the banks of the Mahanadi river at the Munduli barrage, Chandaka Wildlife Division in Cuttack.
245:, where it is patchily distributed and declining in numbers. They are mainly found in rivers or estuaries. They are very brightly marked in black, white and orange, making them difficult to miss.
278:
are grey-brown above with pale fringes to the feathers on the back and wings. The head has more white than in adult birds and the bill is orange-brown with a dark tip.
483:
The population is now mainly within India and
Pakistan and is estimated to be about 6,000-10,000 individuals. The decreasing population has led it to being classed as
1311:
491:. It is threatened by habitat loss and degradation, pollution and disturbance by humans. Most colonies are unprotected but some lie within nature reserves such as
937:
671:
1086:
1135:
873:
1465:
983:
Debata, Subrat; Kar, Tuhinansu; Palei, Himanshu
Shekhar (2018). "Occurrence of Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis eggs in River Tern Sterna aurantia nests".
262:
and nape white. The wings are long and pointed with a white trailing edge. The short, forked tail is white with blackish central feathers. The long, thick
1430:
1285:
1324:
1363:
300:
is smaller with more black in the tail and no white collar. In older times the Indian skimmer was also known as the Indian scissors-bill.
1460:
1389:
61:
450:
The breeding season is mainly March and May. They breed in colonies of up to 40 pairs, often with terns and other birds. The
1329:
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1087:"Ornithological records from Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR, January–July 1997"
460:
437:
386:
338:
1173:
788:(Linn.) - new additions to the avifauna of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur"
321:
93:
392:
969:
Catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the
British Museum. Volume 1
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1167:
397:
370:
350:
293:
267:
153:
113:
253:
1290:
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354:
330:
317:
143:
657:"Records of some rare birds from Farakka Barrage (West Bengal, India)"
266:
is orange with a yellow tip and, like the other skimmers, has a lower
1197:
727:"Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis: a recent record from Tamil Nadu"
441:
103:
1303:
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37:
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342:
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Non-breeding adults are duller and browner than breeding birds.
263:
242:
123:
1148:
509:
507:
403:
with a description of the "Madrass Sea Crow" by Edward
Buckley
329:
still found in parts of
Pakistan in the Indus river system of
381:. At present, the last strongholds of the Indian Skimmer are
257:
The bill is thin and knife-like to reduce resistance to water
573:. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions. p. 201.
878:
in the
National Chambal Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India"
610:(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 74–76.
608:
Handbook of the birds of India and
Pakistan. Volume 3
447:. They often feed at dusk and can be very nocturnal.
1157:
753:"Occurrence of the Indian Skimmer or Scissorbill (
539:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22694268A178970109.en
232:) is one of the three species that belong to the
432:often associate with terns. They feed mainly on
312:An Indian skimmer seen skimming for food in the
590:. Gurney and Jackson, London. pp. 487–489.
571:Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Volume 2
641:Handbook to the birds of the Bombay Presidency
8:
411:area, an area that is of importance for the
296:is larger with a black tip to the bill. The
844:"Extension of range of the Indian Skimmer,
811:"Avifauna of Bhitarkanika mangroves, India"
587:Popular handbook of Indian birds. Edition 4
1145:
874:"Observations on breeding Indian Skimmers
55:
36:
27:
826:
701:in the National Chambal Sanctuary, India"
537:
357:. It is a scarce non-breeding visitor to
19:For the horse named after this bird, see
1021:Nests and eggs of Indian birds. Volume 1
391:
867:
865:
503:
1037:"Belly-soaking in the Charadriiformes"
644:. Calcutta Central Press. p. 434.
401:Synopsis methodica avium & piscium
1064:. George Wyman & Co. p. 847.
624:Game, shore, and water birds of India
601:
599:
597:
564:
562:
560:
558:
556:
407:Breeding colonies are known from the
7:
1133:Oriental Bird Images: Indian Skimmer
725:Madhav, Vikas; D. Nagarajan (2010).
459:, laying their eggs in the nests of
1466:Taxa named by William John Swainson
697:"Breeding status of Indian Skimmer
627:. W. Thacker & Co. p. 230.
525:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
1024:. R H Porter, London. p. 378.
569:Rasmussen PC; JC Anderton (2005).
14:
285:call but is usually very silent.
1431:IUCN Red List endangered species
281:It has a high, nasal, screaming
80:
514:BirdLife International (2020).
972:. British Museum. p. 202.
828:10.11609/jott.zpj.1716.2839-47
1:
997:10.1080/00063657.2018.1443056
842:Majumdar, N; Roy, CS (1993).
757:Swainson) in Salsette Island"
809:Gopi, GV; B Pandav (2007).
778:Sivasubramanian, C (1992).
1482:
606:Ali, S; SD Ripley (1981).
493:National Chambal Sanctuary
18:
872:Sundar, K S Gopi (2004).
848:Swainson (Aves: Laridae)"
784:Swainson and Black Stork
532:: e.T22694268A178970109.
345:and formerly occurred in
333:and northern and central
207:
200:
182:
175:
77:Scientific classification
75:
53:
44:
35:
30:
1061:Birds of India. Volume 3
1041:J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc
852:J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc
792:J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc
761:J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc
670:(4): 106. Archived from
621:Le Messurier, A (1904).
304:Distribution and habitat
1461:Birds described in 1838
1100:: 21–28. Archived from
926:, New York. p. 34.
924:Charles Scribner's Sons
919:Two years in the Jungle
891:: 89–90. Archived from
584:Whistler, Hugh (1949).
396:A 1713 illustration in
751:Stairmand, DS (1970).
428:
404:
373:with old records from
361:and has occurred as a
325:
258:
21:Indian Skimmer (horse)
916:Hornaday, WT (1904).
426:
395:
311:
256:
755:Rhynchops albicollis
436:but also take small
224:Indian scissors-bill
210:Rhynchops albicollis
1408:Rynchops-albicollis
1203:rynchops-albicollis
1189:Rynchops albicollis
1159:Rynchops albicollis
1058:Jerdon, TC (1864).
1035:Maclean GL (1974).
938:"Birds In The Sand"
876:Rynchops albicollis
846:Rynchops albicollis
815:Zoos' Print Journal
782:Rynchops albicollis
699:Rynchops albicollis
638:Barnes, HE (1885).
518:Rynchops albicollis
229:Rynchops albicollis
186:Rynchops albicollis
47:Conservation status
1138:2019-01-02 at the
1085:Evans, TD (2001).
966:Oates, EW (1901).
429:
405:
337:along the Ganges,
326:
259:
168:R. albicollis
1456:Birds of Pakistan
1441:Birds of Cambodia
1418:
1417:
1377:Open Tree of Life
1151:Taxon identifiers
1128:Photos and videos
1018:Hume, AO (1889).
821:(10): 2839–2847.
695:Das,D.K. (2015).
216:
215:
70:
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1451:Birds of Myanmar
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780:"Indian Skimmer
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471:using its leg.
465:Sterna aurantia
427:Egg colouration
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134:Charadriiformes
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31:Indian skimmer
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16:Species of bird
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1107:on 2008-10-11
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898:on 2008-10-11
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798:(2): 252–253.
797:
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787:
786:Ciconia nigra
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314:River Chambal
310:
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290:black skimmer
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946:the original
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900:. Retrieved
893:the original
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707:
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679:. Retrieved
672:the original
667:
664:Indian Birds
663:
650:
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623:
616:
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586:
579:
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543:. Retrieved
529:
523:
517:
482:
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475:Conservation
464:
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430:
408:
406:
400:
369:and central
327:
287:
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185:
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154:
25:
1299:iNaturalist
1183:Wikispecies
991:: 140–142.
734:BirdingASIA
545:19 November
461:river terns
438:crustaceans
249:Description
1425:Categories
1403:Xeno-canto
1111:2010-01-09
985:Bird Study
952:2016-12-07
902:2010-01-09
681:2010-01-09
499:References
495:in India.
485:Endangered
469:river tern
387:Bangladesh
339:Bangladesh
62:Endangered
858:(3): 511.
767:(3): 571.
419:Behaviour
398:John Rays
322:Rajasthan
283:kyap-kyap
276:Juveniles
162:Species:
100:Kingdom:
94:Eukaryota
1436:Rynchops
1343:22694268
1317:11225989
1278:45516169
1229:22694268
1224:BirdLife
1168:Wikidata
1136:Archived
1094:Forktail
1047:: 74–82.
1005:90306844
885:Forktail
714:(2): 53.
371:Thailand
351:Cambodia
294:Americas
268:mandible
238:Rynchops
202:Synonyms
193:Swainson
155:Rynchops
140:Family:
114:Chordata
110:Phylum:
104:Animalia
90:Domain:
67:IUCN 3.1
1382:3596906
1291:2481207
1265:indski1
1239:indski1
1211:Avibase
1174:Q972429
1075:Lotus.)
487:by the
413:gharial
363:vagrant
355:Vietnam
331:Kashmir
318:Dholpur
292:of the
234:skimmer
150:Genus:
144:Laridae
130:Order:
120:Class:
65: (
1395:344002
1369:344002
1330:176964
1198:ARKive
1003:
445:larvae
442:insect
385:, and
236:genus
195:, 1838
1390:WoRMS
1356:73041
1312:IRMNG
1260:eBird
1252:6WZ8K
1236:BOW:
1105:(PDF)
1090:(PDF)
1001:S2CID
896:(PDF)
881:(PDF)
740:: 98.
730:(PDF)
704:(PDF)
675:(PDF)
660:(PDF)
383:India
379:China
359:Nepal
343:Burma
335:India
316:near
1364:OBIS
1338:IUCN
1325:ITIS
1304:4498
1286:GBIF
547:2021
530:2020
489:IUCN
452:nest
440:and
434:fish
377:and
375:Iran
367:Oman
353:and
347:Laos
341:and
288:The
264:bill
243:Asia
218:The
124:Aves
1273:EoL
1247:CoL
993:doi
823:doi
534:doi
365:in
222:or
1427::
1405::
1392::
1379::
1366::
1353::
1340::
1327::
1314::
1301::
1288::
1275::
1262::
1249::
1226::
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1200::
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1092:.
1045:72
1043:.
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999:.
989:65
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889:20
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883:.
864:^
856:90
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850:.
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817:.
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796:89
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765:67
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506:^
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320:,
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955:.
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831:.
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684:.
668:2
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