May be distinguished from male black cuckooshrike by lacking the yellow gape and by having a square (not rounded) tail. It differs from square-tailed drongo by the square (not notched) tail and brown (not red) eye. It hawks from perches, taking food from the ground.
Juvenile is dull black, scalloped with brown.
Woodland, savanna and forest edges.
Song a wheezy 'tzzit-terra-loora-loo'.