The donacobius belongs to its own unique family (Donacobiidae), with no known close relatives. Its appearance recalls a robust thrush: dark brown back, pale yellowish-cream breast and belly, a white stripe above the eye and intense, penetrating yellow eyes. The tail is long, graduated and white-tipped. They live and move always in pairs, never alone. Total length: 21 to 23 cm.
Behaviour
An insectivore that searches for ants, larvae, spiders and beetles among the tangle of water hyacinths and marsh vegetation. Its social behavior is a spectacle: on detecting an intruder, the pair climbs onto an exposed branch, stretches the neck, opens the wings and launches a powerful, rhythmic "angú-angú-angú" while both sway the tail in perfect synchrony, as if performing a rehearsed choreography.
How and when to see it
Year-round. Its powerful, unmistakable song announces its presence hundreds of meters before you see it. Any channel with dense vegetation guarantees the encounter.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where black-capped donacobius has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where black-capped donacobius lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Esteros Ñe’é
Experiencias con relato local y mirada cultural sobre los esteros.★ 5.0 - Gaucho Argentino
Travesías a caballo por una red de refugios en el Iberá. Cabalgatas de varios días con…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Senderismo guiado. Visita guiada a museos, lugares históricos, capillas y senderos del…★ 5.0 - Salvaje Iberá
Senderismo, cicloturismo, safari fotográfico, avistaje de fauna, paseos largos en el día…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameBlack-capped Donacobius
- Scientific nameDonacobius atricapilla
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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