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.
Region
West Africa
Typical Environment
Found along the Atlantic coast from Mauritania and Senegal south through the Gulf of Guinea to at least Gabon and Angola. It breeds on low sandy or shelly islands, beaches, and sand spits, often within protected deltas and coastal reserves. Outside the breeding season it disperses widely along the coast, frequenting estuaries, lagoons, and nearshore waters. It typically forages just offshore over shoals where small schooling fish are abundant.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 100 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Recently split from the New World royal tern, this species breeds in a few large colonies along the West African coast. It is a striking orange-billed tern that plunge-dives for fish in coastal waters and estuaries. Disturbance at breeding islands can have outsized impacts because many birds concentrate in only a handful of sites.
Breeding colony at Langue de Barbarie, Senegal
Temperament
social and colonial
Flight Pattern
strong flier with rapid wingbeats and buoyant glides; frequent plunge-dives
Social Behavior
Breeds in dense colonies on open sandy islets, often alongside other terns. Pairs form seasonal monogamous bonds and defend a small territory around the nest. Nests are shallow scrapes on sand or shell with typically one egg, and both parents incubate and feed the chick.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Calls are loud, harsh, and carrying, often a rolling kerr-iick or kreear given in flight over colonies. Contact calls at sea are shorter, rasping notes used to coordinate foraging.
Plumage
Pale grey upperparts with white rump and underparts; in breeding season a glossy black cap extends into a shaggy crest, receding in non‑breeding to reveal a white forehead. Wings are long and narrow with darker outer primaries and a clean white underside.
Diet
Primarily small schooling fish such as sardines and anchovies, captured by plunge-diving from several meters above the surface. Will also take juvenile mullet and similar nearshore fish when available. Occasionally snaps up small crustaceans or squid but fish dominate the diet.
Preferred Environment
Usually feeds in shallow coastal waters, estuary mouths, and along sandy surf zones where baitfish concentrate. Often forages near tidal rips, sandbars, or areas of upwelling and may follow fishing boats or mixed-species tern flocks.
