Scientific name: Laniarius bicolor
Occurs from Cameroon and the DRC to southern Africa, where it is locally common in northern Botswana, the Caprivi Strip and the upper-most reaches of Namibia. It almost only occurs along watercourses with surrounding dense vegetetation, such as tall reedbeds, Cyperus papyrus (Papyrus) and Ficus verruculosa (Water figs).
The upperparts are deep blue-black with a slight luster. The long, fluffy rump feathers have concealed white spots,[2] giving the rump a pale appearance. The wings are black with white wing-stripes, and the underparts are pure white. The iris is dark brown, the bill and palate are black, and the legs and feet slate-blue.
It eats a variety of insects, fruit and rarely frogs, doing most of its foraging in reedbeds or trees, gleaning prey from the vegetation. It also forages on the ground, flicking plant detritus around with its bill in a manner similar to thrushes.
