Black-capped Mockingthrush (Donacobius atricapillus)

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

Brazil

It is now generally agreed that the Black-capped Donacobius belongs in the Wren family rather than with the Mockingbirds.

It is found in grass or marsh surrounding pools, lakes and rivers and is distributed in tropical lowlands of South America.

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. The final 3 photos 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.

There are some excellent recordings of these vocalisations on the xeno-canto website.

There are illustrations in Hilty & Brown, Plate 41; Ridgely & Tudor, Volume 1, Plate 3 and in Sick, Plate 37

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

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