Southern Tchagra

Overview

The southern tchagra (Tchagra tchagra) is a passerine bird found in dense scrub and coastal bush in southern and south-eastern South Africa and Eswatini. It is a bushshrike, a group closely related to the true shrikes in the family Laniidae.

Identification

• 17–21 cm in length with a brown crown and black eye stripes separated by a broad white supercilium.
• Pale grey underparts and pale brown upperparts, with chestnut folded wings and a black tail tipped white.
• Longish black bill; male sings a descending whistling song while the female responds with a trilled call.
• Similar to the black-crowned tchagra but distinguished by its smaller size and brown rather than black crown.

Habitat

Inhabits dense scrub and coastal bush in southern and south-eastern South Africa and Eswatini. It is a solitary territorial species that is less conspicuous than true shrikes, especially during the breeding season.

Diet

Forages on the ground for insects and other small prey.