The Northern puffback is a medium-sized bushshrike with clear sexual dimorphism. The male in the picture is mostly black and white, with light grey on the upper rump and shoulder. The female, on the other hand, is brown on the back and head and beige below. The species is found in various types of savannah, but also in various types of forest, e.g. mangrove forests. It is a common and visible bird that often takes part in mixed-species flocks.