Rynchops albicollis Swainson, 1838 - Indian Skimmer

Subspecies in India

 

 

 

Photo Gallery and Species Biology


This species is rare. It inhabits inland wetlands and marshlands of coasts. It is migratory, breeding in a large flock in India (Himachal Pradesh and Odisha) and Pakistan. Its wintering areas are in Myanmar, Cambodia and western India (Gujarat and Rajasthan) (BirdLife International 2017).

Conservation Status:
 


According to the IUCN Red List Assessment, the population of this species is declining, with the current population estimate of 4,000-6,700 individuals. The threat to its persistence comes from habitat disturbance due to human encroachments causing pollution (BirdLife International 2017).

StateJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecNo date
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Andhra Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Chandigarh
Chhattisgarh
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Daman & Diu
Delhi
Goa
Gujarat
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir
Jharkhand
Karnataka
Kerala
Lakshadweep
Madhya Pradesh4111
Maharashtra11
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Nagaland
Odisha
Paschimbanga
Pondicherry
Punjab
Rajasthan
Sikkim
Tamil Nadu
Tripura
Uttar Pradesh
Uttarakhand
West Bengal
Total4122
BirdLife International 2017. Rynchops albicollis (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22694268A110600990. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22694268A110600990.en. Accessed on 06 February 2020.
 

Page citation

Anonymous 2024. Rynchops albicollis Swainson, 1838 – Indian Skimmer. In Satose, V., A. Bayani, V. Ramachandran, P. Roy, and K. Kunte (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 2.17. Published by the Indian Foundation for Butterflies. URL: https://www.birdsofindia.org/rynchops-albicollis, accessed 2024/11/06.