Bird
Black-crowned Tchagra
Tchagra senegalusAlso known as Black-headed Tchagra, Senegal Tchagra
Black-crowned tchagras are distinctive bushshrikes recognized by their jet-black crowns, broad buffy eyestripes, and vibrant rufous wings. They spend much of their day creeping through low thorn thickets, emerging on exposed branches to deliver a loud, descending series of liquid whistles. During breeding displays, males perform conspicuous song flights, rising steeply into the air before parachuting back down with stiffened wings.
SongbirdBushshrikeInsectivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrasshoppers, Caterpillars, Small lizards
Predators
- Snakes
- Accipiter hawks
- Feral cats
ThreatsHabitat loss from agricultural expansion and overgrazing
HabitatsSavanna, open woodland, dense scrub, and thickets
Life span5–8 years
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMalaconotidae
- GenusTchagra
- SpeciesTchagra senegalus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for calls: Trace their location by listening for their distinctive descending whistling song delivered from exposed perches.
- Scan low scrub: Watch dense thickets and thornbushes where they spend most of their time foraging near the ground.
- Avoid playback: Refrain from using recorded calls near nesting territories to prevent territorial stress.
Close Relative (c) Brian du Preez, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian du Preez · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative Family Member
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