16CMS.,MALE IS MAINLY BLACK WITH A WHITE SHOULDER PATCH OR A STRIPE ,WHOSE VISIBLE EXTENT CAN VARY WITH POSTURE. UNDERPARTS ARE GREY BROWN ,IT HAS CHEST-NUT VENT AND ROFOUS-TINGED EAR COVERTS..NORTHERN POPULATIONS HAVE UPPER PLUMAGE BROWNISH WHILE SOUTHERN POPULATIONS ARE BLACK ABOVE.FEMALES ARE BROWNISH ABOVE ,HAVE NO WHITE SHOULDER STRIPE AND ARE GREYISH BELOW WITH THE VENT A PALER SHADE OF CHESTNUT THAN THE MALES. THIS BIRD IS FOUND IN OPEN STONY,GRASSY AND SCRUB FOREST HABITATS.THEY ARE MAINLY FOUND IN DRY HABITATS AND ARE MOSTLY ABSENT FROM THE THICKER FOREST REGIONS AND HIGH RAINFALL AREAS.THEY FEED MOSTLY ON INSECTS BUT ARE KNOWN TO TAKE FROGS AND LIZARDS ESPECIALLY WHEN FEEDING YOUNG AT THE NEST.