Black-crowned Tchagra
Tchagra senegalus
The Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus) is a uncommon bushshrik found in 48 countries, weighing about 54 g. The black-crowned tchagra is a bushshrike.
About the Black-crowned Tchagra
The black-crowned tchagra 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Black-crowned Tchagra sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Black-crowned Tchagra can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-crowned Tchagra?
- The black-crowned tchagra is a colourful and unmistakable species, 19–22 cm in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-crowned Tchagra?
- The Black-crowned Tchagra is a small sized bird weighing about 54 g.
- Where can you see a Black-crowned Tchagra?
- The Black-crowned Tchagra occurs in 48 countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
- What does a Black-crowned Tchagra sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Black-crowned Tchagra on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Black-crowned Tchagra?
- The Black-crowned Tchagra is most easily confused with the Brown-crowned Tchagra, the Southern Tchagra and the Three-streaked Tchagra.
- Is the Black-crowned Tchagra endangered?
- The Black-crowned Tchagra is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-crowned Tchagra for real
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