- Tchagra senegala
Tchagra senegalus
Identification
19-22 cm. Black crown and eye stripes separated by a broad white supercilium, pale grey underparts, pale brown upperparts pale brown, chestnut wings, black tail, tipped white, black bill. Sexes are similar. Young birds have a brown cap and a pale yellow bill.
Distribution
Arabian peninsula and most of Africa.
Taxonomy
There are 10 subspecies which vary in size and the colour of the back, underparts and eyestripe.
Habitat
Scrub, open woodland, semi-desert and cultivation.
Behaviour
The diet includes insects.
It builds a cup shaped nest in a tree or bush, and 2-3 heavily marked white eggs are laid. Both sexes, but mainly the female, incubate for 12-15 days; the chicks fledge after another 15 days.
Vocalisation
Song: descending whistling, Chee-chee chee cheroo cheroo.
