The West African crested tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis) is a bird species in the family Laridae.

A study published in 2005 showed that it is more closely related to the lesser crested tern (Thalasseus bengalensis),[3] and a 2017 publication confirmed and expanded on those results.

[4] The International Ornithologists' Union accepted it as a full species on the publication of version 10.1 in January 2020,[1] and the American Ornithological Society followed suit on 30 June 2020.

[5][6] 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.

Its known foods include members of the herring family, mullet, grunts, jacks, and spadefish.