The skimmers, forming the genus Rynchops, comprise three species – African skimmer, Black skimmer (Americas) and Indian skimmer (South Asia). They were formerly known as the scissorbills – their unique bill has a much longer lower mandible. 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.
