Let me present to you the fascinating Black-capped donacobius. This avian creature is easily identifiable by its striking yellow eyes and distinctive vocalizations. Its black head distinguishes it from other feathered friends.
The black-capped donacobius is a lively bird that hails from South America and boasts distinct physical attributes. These birds have dark upperparts and yellow buff underparts, with a paler chin contrasting the throat. Fine black bars can be seen running transversely on their upper flanks, while a small white patch on the upper wing gives them their name. The bird’s long, dark, fan-shaped tail with noticeable white tips that become broader on the outer feathers adds to its charm. Its forehead, crown, nape, cheeks, and shoulders are black, while during mating rituals, deep orange-yellow cheek pouches appear. Additionally, the bird has a slightly curved downwards bill, bright yellow eyes, and black legs and feet.
Male and female birds have many similarities when it comes to their physical appearance. However, there are noticeable differences in juveniles, such as a brown crown and nape. Additionally, their body feathers appear less vibrant compared to adult birds and lack black barring on the wings.
This particular species of bird can be found in wetlands and swamps across several countries in South America, such as Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Guyana, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, and Panama. Keep an eye out for them!
You can easily spot black-capped donacobius birds in different wetland areas across the Amazon, like river banks, curved lake areas, and spots with plenty of aquatic or semi-aquatic plants.
Flying animals, mostly seen in grassy areas, feed mainly on insects that they pick up from the surfaces of leaves. However, there are instances where they catch insects while flying over bodies of water, by launching themselves from low positions.
In the mating season, water birds construct their nests by piling up grass or reeds over the water surface. The nest is usually positioned at a height ranging from 25 cm to one meter above the water level. The female bird takes charge of creating the bulky open cup shaped nest which measures around 6cm to 8cm in diameter and uses materials such as spider webs, grass, plant fibers, and snake skins. Once the nest is built, two eggs are laid within and left for incubation for a duration of 16 to 18 days. After this period, both parents take turns feeding the hatchlings. It takes approximately 17 to 18 days before the young birds can leave the nest and fly on their own.
The Black-capped Donacobius is a bird that is frequently spotted in its natural habitat, hence there are no current concerns about its population being endangered.
