Southern Tchagra

The Southern Tchagra, a passerine bird of the Malaconotidae family, graces the dense scrub and coastal bush of southern and south-eastern South Africa, as well as Eswatini. This bushshrike, once considered part of the true shrikes family, Laniidae, exhibits a length of 17–21 cm. It is adorned with a brown crown and striking black eye stripes, which are set off by a broad white supercilium. The bird's underparts are a soft pale grey, while the upperparts are a light pale brown. When the wings are folded, a rich chestnut hue is visible, and the tail is a stark black with a white tip. The bill, somewhat longish, is a deep black. Both sexes present a similar appearance, though the juveniles are somewhat duller with a buff stripe through the eye.

Identification Tips

Distinguishing the Southern Tchagra can be a delightful challenge. Look for the brown crown and the black eye stripes, which are a key feature. The underparts should be pale grey, and the upperparts pale brown. The chestnut wings and black-tipped white tail are also distinctive. When observing juveniles, note the buff stripe through the eye. Be cautious not to confuse it with the larger Black-crowned Tchagra, which has a black crown in adults and a brown crown in juveniles. The Southern Tchagra can be differentiated by its smaller size and relatively longer bill.

Habitat

The Southern Tchagra is a denizen of dense scrublands and coastal bush, preferring the thickets of southern and south-eastern South Africa and the verdant reaches of Eswatini.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the regions of southern and south-eastern South Africa, along with Eswatini, where it can be found in its preferred habitats.

Behaviour

A solitary and territorial bird, the Southern Tchagra is less conspicuous than its true shrike relatives, especially during the breeding season. It forages on the ground, seeking insects and other small prey to sustain itself.

Song & Calls

The male Southern Tchagra serenades the air with a descending whistling song, a melodious "ttttrtr te te te teuuu," performed either during a display flight or from a perch. In response, the female emits a trilled "tzerrrrrrrr."

Breeding

The Southern Tchagra crafts a cup nest from twigs and stems, strategically placed in a branch fork within a bush or scrub. The female lays two, sometimes three, eggs that are white with markings of grey and reddish-brown. These eggs incubate for approximately 16 days before hatching, and the fledglings take to the wing after another 14 days.

Similar Species

The Black-crowned Tchagra is the species most similar to the Southern Tchagra. The adult Black-crowned Tchagra can be distinguished by its black crown and larger size, while the juvenile has a brown crown but can be identified by its larger size, relatively shorter bill, and paler underparts.

Diet and Feeding

The Southern Tchagra is an adept forager, primarily feeding on insects and other small prey found on the ground within its habitat.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Southern Tchagra as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, this species does not face any immediate threat of extinction.