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Brown-crowned Tchagra | Tchagra australis
The Brown-crowned Tchagra is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Malaconotidae bird family group which includes birds such as Bush-shrikes, Puffbacks, Tchagras, Boubous, Helment-shrikes, Batises, Wattle-eyes. The description for the Brown-crowned Tchagra (Latin name Tchagra australis) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Tchagra australis can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 743 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 693. You will find a picture of the Brown-crowned Tchagra on page 752. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. This bird is known as Three-streaked Tchagra in the Roberts 6th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Brown-crowned Tchagra between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Brown-crowned Tchagra is known in Afrikaans as Rooivlerktjagra. The Brown-crowned Tchagra has a height of 17 cms and weighs around 35 gms. The head is coloured brown while the bill is coloured brown. The Tchagra australis has a grey, white coloured throat, yellow legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are brown. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is brown Eyes are brown Bill is brown Legs are yellow Throat is grey, white Back is brown Feeding Habits ...The Brown-crowned Tchagra is usually seen hunting for food within the tree foliage The Tchagra australis attacks its prey aerially and feeds on wing or takes the prey to a secluded venue where it is killed, torn into small pieces and eaten This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . The Tchagra australis forages mainly on the ground or at the base of trees, and low down in the shrubs eating mostly fruits and seeds. Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The Brown-crowned Tchagra is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 2 to 3 eggs and they are coloured grey. The nest is built high up in the tree canopy and is protected from predators by branches and the dense green foligae. The Brown-crowned Tchagra is mainly found in light and densely wooded forests, where there are Mopane trees. This bird is very common in most of the Southern African Forests The bird is an urban dweller as well, being at home in parks, gardens and in old vacated buildings Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The Brown-crowned Tchagra is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. |
