Striking and unique with a long, pointed crest, long, dark, decurved bill, and boldly marked upperparts. Expanded crest feathers are pinkish-orange with inky black tips. Warm gray-brown head and breast with olive-brown back. Whitish belly and undertail coverts. Black wings with broad white horizontal stripes. In flight, inner half of wing has bold white horizontal stripes; outer half black with white band across primaries. White rump and black tail with white band across the middle.

Length: 27 (cm) Wingspan: 46 (cm)

Habitat:

Inhabits a wide variety of open woodlands, grasslands, gardens, pastures, and savannas.

Behavior:

Probes in the ground or occasionally hawks insects. Extends crest when excited or alighting. Flight is butterfly-like.

Feeding:

Feeds on insects and insect larvae, spiders, earthworms and snails; rarely consumes lizards, frogs, or snakes.