Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Donacobiidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

donacobius_atricapilla
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southeast Peru

donacobius_atricapilla
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonia, Ecuador

donacobius_atricapilla
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southeast Peru

donacobius_atricapilla
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonia, Brazil

Identification & Behavior: ~15 cm (6 in). The Black-capped Donacobius has a black head and back.  The graduated tail is black with broad white tips. The eyes are pale yellow.  The underparts are pale/yellowish with a variable amount of barring on the flanks. The Black-capped Donacobius is restricted to the grassy or mixed grass and shrub edges of oxbow lakes and rivers. It is found mostly in pairs or family groups that defend a territory. It Performs elaborate duet displays.

Status: The Black-capped Donacobius is fairly common in grassy or mixed grass/shrub edges of oxbow lakes in Amazonian lowlands, below 1000 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and  Bo.

Name in Spanish: Donacobio.

Sub-species: Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapillus nigrodorsalis) Traylor 1948.

Meaning of Name:  Donacobius:  Gr. Donak, Donakos= a reed, bios= a manner of living; life in the reeds. atricapilla:  L. Black-capped, black-headed.

See more of the Family Donacobiidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
Donacobius atricapilla - black-capped donacobiusVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum. http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 7/09/2014.