A distinctive shrike-like bird of forest and forest edge, often seen perched upright on branches wagging its tail from side to side. Looks like a heavyset flycatcher with a large hooked bill, a big head, a relatively short tail, and a large body. Males are typically white below and black above with a red eye and a white rump patch. Females are white below with strong black streaking and white lores, and generally reddish-brown above with darker primary flight feathers. Similar to Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, but African Shrike-Flycatcher has a white throat and no crest, and females have streaked undersides. Calls include a descending “PWHEEEeeeer,” single “cherdew” calls, and doubled sets of variable, almost mechanical phrases: “perit-perit, tchledew-tchledew.”.