Wildlifeof Thailand
Indian Skimmer
Laridae
Photo: (c) Daniel Z, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Rynchops albicollis
Basic stats
Diet
Small fish and crustaceans
Habitat
Large rivers, lakes and estuaries
Range
Indian subcontinent and Myanmar
The Indian skimmer is a black-and-white river bird with an orange bill whose lower mandible projects beyond the upper. Flying low over calm water, it cuts the lower bill through the surface and snaps at small fish and crustaceans. Colonies nest on exposed sandbars along large rivers, lakes and estuaries in the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar (Wikipedia, general species account). It is Nationally Endangered (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What does the Indian Skimmer eat?
- Small fish and crustaceans
- What habitat does the Indian Skimmer live in?
- Large rivers, lakes and estuaries
- Where is the Indian Skimmer found?
- Indian subcontinent and Myanmar