Black-capped Donacobius

Donacobius atricapilla

The Birds of the World website introduces the Black-capped Donacobius with this descriptive information:  The Black-capped Donacobius is a familiar sight in marshes and wet pastures across much of South America, often calling attention to itself with loud, duetting calls. This distinctive bird long resisted efforts by ornithologists to classify it. Formerly it was known as the “Black-capped Mockingthrush,” when it was thought to belong to the New World family of thrashers and mockingbirds (Mimidae), but it now is recognized as the sole member of a family with affinities to with Old World warblers. Despite being common and widespread, and occuring in open habitats, the donacobius is little-studied; but it is known to be a cooperative breeder, at least in southeastern Peru.

I met my first Black-capped Donacobius on Friday afternoon, August 25, 2023.  Our Jeff Parker Tour group was staying at Southwild’s Jaguar Flotel and on this afternoon we were on a boat excursion exploring neary waterways when we spotted this bird, perched in a small tree near the river bank.  For details of my Brazilian trip that include the sighting of this bird, look here.  Below are a couple of my photos of this striking bird.