Rynchops albicollis
Silhouette: Daniel Nuñez-Leon · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10%
The Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) or Indian scissors-bill, is one of the three species that belong to the skimmer genus Rynchops 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 Asia, 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.
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 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 bill is orange with a yellow tip and, like the other skimmers, has a lower mandible which is longer than the upper mandible. The legs and feet are... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranthambore National Park | 🇮🇳 India |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Indian Skimmer sighting in Ranthambore National Park on a given day, based on 24 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 198th most-seen of the 251 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
October and December
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Indian Skimmer in Ranthambore National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–September and November, the lowest months. Those are among Ranthambore National Park's driest months, with about 15 mm of rain a month against 270 mm in August.
Only Ranthambore National Park, in our data
Ranthambore National Park is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Indian Skimmer sightings: under 5% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Indian Skimmer is recorded against all the birds logged in Ranthambore National Park (24 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
