Black-crowned Tchagra

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.

Identification Tips

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.

Habitat

This species thrives in a variety of environments including scrub, open woodland, semi-desert regions, and areas of cultivation.

Distribution

The black-crowned tchagra is widely distributed across the Arabian Peninsula and most of Africa.

Behaviour

The black-crowned tchagra shares behavioral traits with shrikes, as it hunts insects and other small prey from a perch within a bush, though it tends to be less conspicuous than its true shrike counterparts. It is known for its descending whistling song, which can be mimicked to draw the bird into view, likely due to its territorial nature. The male also engages in a switchback display flight.

Song & Calls

The song of the black-crowned tchagra is a descending whistle, described as "chee-chee chee cheroo cheroo." This call is often used by birdwatchers to lure the bird into sight.

Breeding

The breeding behavior of the black-crowned tchagra involves laying two or three heavily marked white eggs in a cup nest situated in a tree or bush. Both sexes participate in incubation, which lasts 12–15 days until hatching, and the chicks fledge after an additional 15 days, with the female primarily overseeing this process.

Similar Species

While the black-crowned tchagra is quite distinctive, it may be confused with other bushshrikes or shrikes. However, its unique coloration and song are key differentiators.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the black-crowned tchagra consists of insects and other small prey, which it hunts from a perch in a bush in a manner similar to shrikes.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the black-crowned tchagra as Least Concern, indicating that it is not currently at significant risk of widespread decline.