A large, chat-like buff-brown flycatcher. Lighter edges to the flight feathers form a pale wing panel. Individuals, pairs, and loosely associated groups sit on shrubs, fences, and telephone wires in arid shrublands and savanna. They drop to the ground, where they look distinctly chat-like, to hunt insects and small vertebrates. They also hawk for food. The plain brown tail and rump differentiates Chat Flycatcher from all chats. The similar Pale Flycatcher is smaller, lacks the paler wing panel, and prefers moist broadleaf woodland.