About Myrmecocichla nigra (Vieillot, 1818)
This species, Myrmecocichla nigra (Vieillot, 1818), measures 15 to 16 cm (6 to 6.25 inches) in length. As a type of chat, it has a stocky build and a relatively short tail. Adult males have glossy black plumage, with the exception of white patches on their upper wings. These white patches are usually visible or only partly concealed when the bird is at rest, as seen in the upper right photograph. Females and young individuals of this species have very dark brown plumage. The species occurs in African grasslands across a wide but discontinuous range, extending from Senegal east to Kenya, and south to Angola and Zambia. Its total estimated range covers 3,400,000 km2, and the species is considered frequent across at least parts of this area.
