Colour cvaries regionally, the the rufous outer wings and nape are consistent features. It has a small erectile crest.
Juvenile has a blotched breast, not clearly spotted as in adult.
Diverse: from open grassland with stunted bushes to thornveld and cultivated areas.
A frequently repeated, trisylabic 'tree, tree-loo' when perched; the wings are often flapped during the perching song. A jumbled mixture of imitated calls goven during display flight.