West African Crested Tern
Thalasseus albididorsalis
The West African Crested Tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis) is a rare skimmers, noddies, terns, and gull found in 22 countries. The West African crested tern is a bird species in the family Laridae.
About the West African Crested Tern
The West African crested tern is a bird species in the family Laridae. Until 2020 it was considered a subspecies of the New World royal tern, Thalasseus maximus.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The West African crested tern is one of the three larger crested terns, along with royal tern and greater crested tern. Its tail is shallowly forked and the adult's bill is long and orange. It is about 50 cm (20 in) long, with a wingspan between 125–135 cm (49–53 in), and weighs 320–440 g (11–16 oz) with a mean weight of 367 g (12.9 oz). In breeding plumage its underside is white and upper parts silvery grey; the top of the head is black with a shaggy crest at the rear. As in all Thalasseus terns, the primary feathers are silvery when fresh, but soon become blackish with wear.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain, France, Portugal, Congo - Kinshasa.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a West African Crested Tern?
- The West African crested tern is one of the three larger crested terns, along with royal tern and greater crested tern. Full identification notes are on this page.
- Where can you see a West African Crested Tern?
- The West African Crested Tern occurs in 22 countries, including Senegal, the Gambia, Ghana, Gabon and Angola.
- What birds look similar to a West African Crested Tern?
- The West African Crested Tern is most easily confused with the Chinese Crested Tern, the Lesser Crested Tern and the Elegant Tern.
Learn the West African Crested Tern for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.