They are conspicuous and usually noisy birds. They frequent the topmost branches of tall trees from which they indulge in wild erratic flights, accompanied by loud cries and attack any large bird that passes. Others perch on dead branches on low trees from which they swoop down on their prey. Very keen eyesight and are among the first birds to come to a grassfire, termite hatch or locust swarm. Usually seen in pairs, they nest in holes in trees and lay two or three white eggs.
Incubation lasts about three weeks and the young are fledged in about four weeks.
They have a strong body and a crow-like beak widened at the base. They have short legs and weak feet and rarely walk or hop. The three anterior toes are joined along their basal segments. They are good flyers with long wings. Courtship involves fast chases on the wing with the following bird breaking away and rocketing earthwards, rolling from side to side and calling raucously all the while.