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The black-crowned tchagra, Tchagra senegalus, is a member of the bushshrike family, Malaconotidae. This group is akin to the true shrikes of the Laniidae family, with which they were once classified. The adult black-crowned tchagra is a striking bird, measuring 19–22 cm in length, with a distinctive black crown and eye stripes, set off by a broad white supercilium. Its underparts are a pale grey, while the upperparts are a soft pale brown. The wings, when folded, reveal a rich chestnut color, and the tail is black with a white tip. The bill is a stark black. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but the juveniles can be identified by their brown cap and pale yellow bill.
To identify the black-crowned tchagra, look for the solid black crown bordered by buff superciliary stripes. Juveniles will have a brownish crown instead. There are 14 subspecies, which may vary in size and the coloration of the back, underparts, and eyestripe.
This species thrives in a variety of environments including scrub, open woodland, semi-desert regions, and areas of cultivation.
The black-crowned tchagra is widely distributed across the Arabian Peninsula and most of Africa.
