The black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, also known as the black-and-white flycatcher or vanga flycatcher, is a species of passerine bird found in Africa. It was placed with the wattle-eyes and batises in the family Platysteiridae but is now considered to be more closely related to the helmetshrikes and woodshrikes.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs widely from West Africa through Central Africa and into parts of East Africa, primarily in lowland and foothill zones. It inhabits moist and semi-moist forests, forest edges, gallery forests, wooded savannas, and secondary growth. The species favors mid- to upper-level canopy and edges where shafts of light attract flying insects. It also uses plantations and overgrown farmland with scattered tall trees. Local abundance can vary with forest disturbance and availability of tall perches.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This striking passerine is sexually dimorphic: males are boldly black and white with a small erectile crest, while females are warm brown with streaked underparts. It forages like a flycatcher, sallying from perches to snatch insects, but also gleans from foliage. Formerly placed with wattle-eyes and batises, it is now considered closer to helmetshrikes and woodshrikes. It is generally unobtrusive in the canopy and forest edge, often detected by its sharp calls.
Illustration by Otto Finsch
Temperament
alert but often inconspicuous; typically perches high in the canopy
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent sallies to catch prey
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes accompanying mixed-species flocks along forest edges and canopy. Pairs maintain small territories during the breeding season and perform display flights with crest raised. The nest is a small cup placed on horizontal branches well above ground.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include sharp, ringing whistles and brief squeaky notes, often delivered from a concealed perch. Calls can be repetitive and serve for pair contact in dense foliage.
Plumage
Male shows bold black-and-white contrast with glossy black head, mantle, and tail, clean white underparts, and white wing patches; a small erectile crest is often raised when displaying. Female is predominantly warm brown above with buffy to whitish underparts marked with streaking or mottling. Both sexes have a fairly stout, slightly hooked bill typical of shrike-like birds.
Diet
Primarily hunts flying and leaf-dwelling insects such as beetles, flies, moths, and caterpillars. It uses perch-and-sally tactics to take aerial prey and also gleans from leaves and small branches. Small spiders and other arthropods are also taken, and it may occasionally sample small berries.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mainly in mid to upper canopy along forest edges, gaps, and sunlit perches where insect activity is high. Will also forage along edges of gallery forests and in tall secondary growth or wooded savanna with scattered trees.
