Donacobius Donacobius atricapilla Black-capped Mockingthrush

Donacobius Donacobius atricapilla
(aka Black-capped Mockingthrush, Black-capped Donacobius)

Black-capped Donacobius, Aguas de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, August 2004 - click for larger image

Brazil and Peru

There is some debate about the place of this species in taxonomy and it was believed that the Donacobius belonged in the Wren family rather than with the Mockingbirds. However, the HBW and Birdlife International checklist now states that DNA studies show it to be an "aberrant, Neotropical isolate "sylvoid" that requires its own family."

It is found in grass or marsh surrounding pools, lakes and rivers and is distributed in tropical lowlands of South America. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

They are extremely vocal and pairs are often found singing a duet while wagging or fanning out their tails to show the large white spots. Photos 4 to 6 show many of the aspects of a typical display with the two birds on an exposed perch facing each other and often exposing the orange skin on the sides of the neck.

Photo 7 from the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru shows the sub-species D. a. nigrodorsalis which has a blacker back and more prominent barring on the flanks.

Black-capped Donacobius, Cristalino, Mato Grosso, Brazil, December 2006 - click for larger image

Black-capped Donacobius, Humedal de Indañe, San Martin, Peru, October 2018 - click for larger image

Back to Index

If you do not see a menu on the left, you may have arrived at this page from another site. Please click Home to get to my main page.