In the north of their range, savannah thickets constitute an important part of their habitat, while in the south they are strongly associated with river systems and marshes, for which they are named.

It is found in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, DRC, Gabon, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Along these rivers and swamps they frequent dense, tangled riparian vegetation,[4] edges of reedbeds, papyrus stands or clumps of water fig on islands.

[2] The iris is dark brown, the bill and palate are black, and the legs and feet slate-blue.

[2] Their larger size, more slender bill, immaculate white underparts, and vocals distinguish them from the tropical boubou where they locally occur together.

[2] The male then gives a short whistle, to which the female immediately replies with a harsh, ratchet-like kick-ick.

[4] The nest is a shallow cup of loosely woven twigs, placed some 2 to 3 meters above ground in a tangle,[2] or in an ornamental bougainvillea shrub.