This is the western counterpart of Great Crested Flycatcher; paler overall. Upperparts are brownish-gray. The wings are slightly darker, with whitish wing bars and whitish edges on the secondaries and tertials, and rufous edges on the primaries. The tail shows extensive rufous, especially on the underside, but rufous does not extend to the tail tip. The throat and breast are pale gray, paler on the throat. The belly, undertail coverts, and underwing coverts are very pale yellow. Peaked crown can raise into a bushy crest. Bill is all black.

Length: 19 (cm) Wingspan: 30 (cm)

Voice:

Call notes include a loud cha-queer, a crisp ka-brik, and a gentle prrrrt.

Habitat:

Scrub, open woodland, riparian woodland.

Behavior:

Nests in cavities, including woodpecker cavities, nest boxes, and other man-made structures.

Feeding:

Forages for insects in low vegetation and on the ground. Also takes small fruit.