The scissor-beak (Rhynchops nigra) frequents the lakes and streams. It
is about the size of a tern, with short legs, webbed feet, and extremely
long, pointed wings. The beak is flattened laterally, and the lower
mandible is an inch and a half longer than the upper. When flying along
in small flocks, close to the surface of a lake, the birds keep their
bills wide open, the lower mandible half buried in the water. In their
flight they frequently twist about with extreme swiftness, managing,
with their projecting lower mandible, to plough up small fish, which
they retain in the lower half of their scissor-like bills. Each bird
thus leaves its wake on the mirror-like surface. On quitting the water
their flight is wild, irregular, and rapid. They then utter loud, harsh
cries; their tails, as they fly, are much used in steering their
irregular course.
During the day they may generally be seen resting in flocks on the
grassy plains, at some distance from the water, as they usually take to
fishing at night.