The Damara Tern breeds along the coast of southwestern Africa and moves north along the West African coast seasonally. It may plunge-dive for small fish.
Adults in breeding plumage are very pale, with a black cap extending onto the nape and a very pale grey back. In flight, a black triangular wing tip is visible.
It feeds mainly on small fish and sometimes small squid. It forages in shallow coastal water and the surf zone, diving into the water to catch prey.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.