What is an Indian Skimmer?

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About Indian Skimmer:

It is one of the three species that belong to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae.
It is native to South Asia.
It gets its name from the way it feeds, flying low over the water surface and ‘skimming’for fish.
Scientific Name: Rynchops albicollis
Distribution:
- It is mainly found in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, with some populations extending to Nepal and Myanmar.
- One of the key areas for spotting Indian Skimmers is the Chambal River, which runs through northern India.
The population is estimated at 2,450-2,900 mature individuals.
Habitat: It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes, and, in the non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts.
Features:
- It grows to a length of 40-43 cm.
- The Indian Skimmer has a striking appearance. Its upper body is black, while its underbelly is white.
- The most eye-catching feature is its beak, which is orange with a lower mandible that is much longer than the upper one.
- This special beak helps the bird skim across the surface of the water to catch small fish and aquatic creatures.
- The bird’s wings are long and angular, designed for fast, precise flight.
Conservation status:
- IUCN: Endangered

Q1: What is an estuary?

An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and through it, into the open sea.

News: Rare Indian Skimmer birds spotted at Lower Manair Dam in Telangana