Angola (B) (NB), Benin (NB), Cameroon (NB), Congo [The Democratic Republic of the] (NB), Congo [The Democratic Republic of the] (NB), Côte dIvoire (NB), Gabon (NB), Ghana (NB), Namibia (B) (P), Nigeria (NB), South Africa (B), Togo (NB).
Vagrant to Liberia (NB).
Namibia, south to the Cape provinces in South Africa and north to Cabinda in Angola. It disperses north after the breeding season and is recorded regularly from the coastal waters of Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.
 
Population
Estimated population is 14,000 (2010) and stable.
Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum) [XC804556]
by Maarten Sluijter from Cape Agulhas Municipality (near Struis Bay), Overberg District Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa (alarm call, call, flight call)
Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum) [XC892936]
by id from Walvis Bay, Erongo Region, Namibia (call)
Nest
A scrape on the ground, sometimes lined with shell chips or small stones.
Subspecies
Sometimes included in superspecies formed with Little Tern (Sternula albifrons).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
With breeding Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) which has white forehead and mainly yellow bill. In non-breeding plumage, has less white on head, darker mantle and more slight proportions.
References
See References.