19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - BLACK CROWNED TCHAGRA (Tchagra senegalus)

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.

19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - BLACK CROWNED TCHAGRA (Tchagra senegalus)

The Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus) is a distinctive African and Arabian bushshrike known for its bold black crown, eye stripes, and white eyebrows, feeding on insects and small creatures in dry woodlands, often calling with rising, musical scales, and building cup nests bound with spiderwebs in thorny bushes. They are solitary or in pairs, run quickly to cover, and their calls can be mimicked to attract them. 

Key Facts:

Appearance: Black crown, black eye stripes, broad white supercilium (eyebrow), pale brown back, grey belly, chestnut wing edges, black tail with white tip.

Habitat: Dry, thorny savannahs, open woodlands, forest edges, semi-desert, and gardens across Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Diet: Primarily insects (grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars), spiders, and termites, but also small frogs, lizards, and snakes.

Foraging: Forages on or near the ground, running and hopping, flicking debris with its bill; also gleans from vegetation.

Vocalization: Famous for its unique, musical call that ascends in pitch and speed, often described as playing a penny whistle.

Nesting: Builds a shallow, cup-shaped nest of twigs, roots, and spiderwebs in low, dense bushes; both parents build and incubate.

Behavior: Solitary or in pairs, runs very fast to cover when threatened, generally discreet but tolerant of humans.

Name: "Tchagra" is an onomatopoeia for its grating call.