Photo: rangersara / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
West African Crested Tern
Thalasseus albididorsalis
West African Crested Tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The West African Crested Tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis) is a member of the Laridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 415 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Thalasseus
- Species albididorsalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 415 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The West African Crested Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The West African Crested Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The West African Crested Tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF coasts of Mauritania to Guinea (w Africa).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 415 g, with a wing length of about 36.4 cm and a tail of around 15.4 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the West African Crested Tern?
The West African Crested Tern is a large bird that weighs around 415 g.
Where does the West African Crested Tern live?
The West African Crested Tern is found across Africa with a range covering AF coasts of Mauritania to Guinea (w Africa), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the West African Crested Tern belong to?
The West African Crested Tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the West African Crested Tern eat?
The West African Crested Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the West African Crested Tern migrate?
The West African Crested Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
What sound does the West African Crested Tern make?
1 real field recording of the West African Crested Tern — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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