A study of the Black Boubou distinguished the all-black birds of bushy savanna in northern Kenya and southern Somalia as Laniarius nigerrimus. Species accounts describe it as resident, active by day, and mainly an invertebrate eater.
The population studied along the coasts of northern Kenya and southern Somalia is all black, unlike related pied boubous with pale underparts or a wing stripe.
The species account describes it as sedentary and active by day, with a diet consisting mainly of invertebrates.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.