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A photo of a Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus)
Black-crowned Tchagra

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

The black-crowned tchagra (Tchagra senegalus) is a bushshrike. This family of passerine birds is closely related to the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, and was once included in that group. This species is found in the Arabian peninsula and most of Africa in scrub, open woodland, semi-desert and cultivation. The black-crowned tchagra is a colourful and unmistakable species, 19–22 cm in length. It has a black crown and eye stripes separated by a broad white supercilium. The underparts are pale grey and the upperparts pale brown. The folded wings are chestnut and the tail is black, tipped white. The bill is black. Sexes are similar, but young birds have a brown cap and a pale yellow bill. There are 14 subspecies, varying in size and the colour of the back, underparts and eyestripe. Black-crowned tchagra has a descending whistling song, chee-chee chee cheroo cheroo, and can be readily tempted into sight by imitating this call, presumably because the bird is concerned that there is an intruder in its territory. The male also has a switchback display flight.
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Black-crowned Tchagras on Birda

Photos

Sightings

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Niche Wiche
Friday 19 May 2023 - 7:23am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
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Niche Wiche
Friday 19 May 2023 - 6:35am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
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Sandra Reid
Monday 15 May 2023 - 6:38am
United Kingdom
A map showing the sighting location
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Trevor Kleyn
Thursday 11 May 2023 - 7:40am
South Africa
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