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.

Black-crowned tchagra has a descending whistling song, chee-chee chee cheroo cheroo, and can be readily tempted into sight by imitating this call, presumably because the bird is concerned that there is an intruder in its territory.
The male also has a switchback display flight.
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.
Black-crowned tchagra has a descending whistling song, chee-chee chee cheroo cheroo, and can be readily tempted into sight by imitating this call, presumably because the bird is concerned that there is an intruder in its territory. The male also has a switchback display flight.
Black-crowned tchagra