About Emarginata schlegelii (Wahlberg, 1855)
The Karoo chat, with the scientific name Emarginata schlegelii, measures 16–18 cm in length and weighs approximately 32 grams. Its upperparts are grey, with a rufous patch located behind the eye. Its tail is black, with white outer feathers. The underparts of this bird are white. It has a short, straight black bill, black legs and feet, and a dark eye. The sexes have similar appearance. Juvenile Karoo chats, however, are spotted with buff and have scaly textured underparts. This species is paler than the similar grey form of the female mountain wheatear. It also differs from that bird by having a grey rump instead of a white rump, and completely white outer tail feathers. Its larger size and entirely all-white outer tail feathers prevent confusion with tractrac chats or sickle-winged chats. The calls of the Karoo chat are described as chak-chak and trrat-trrat.
