Brown-crowned Tchagra

Common resident. Smaller than [Southern Tchagra] and [Black-crowned Tchagra], less rufous, more buff-brown. Grey-brown central crown separated from whitish eyebrow by conspicuous black line. Pale buff below. The flight pattern is very similar to that of [Black-crowned Tchagra]. Immature is like adult but duller. The alarm note is a guttural ‘churr’. In summer, the male displays by flying steeply upwards to above tree height, then planing down with quivering wings while calling ‘tui-tui-tui-tui-tui…’ in a descending cadence. A thornveld species which spends much time in thickets or on the ground under bushes. If disturbed, hops onto some low branch before hopping or flying into cover. Usually seen singly.