The chats of the Karoo appear, at first glance, dauntingly alike. However, Tractrac Chat's much-discussed resemblance to Karoo Chat is only superficial: Tractrac is a smaller, paler and more compact bird, shorter-tailed and with a characteristically pale rump. The similar, but more scarce, Sickle-winged Chat can also have a remarkably pale, square rump-patch, but also appears longer-tailed and generally darker than Tractrac.