Black-capped becard

Pachyramphus marginatus

Photo by Antonio Silveira (A Ultima Arca de Noé)

Common name:
black-capped becard (en); caneleiro-bordado (pt); bécarde à calotte noire (fr); anambé capirotado (es); streifenrückenbekarde (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae

Range:
This South American species is found from southern Venezuela and Colombia to Peru, northern Bolivia and central Brazil. There is also a disjunct population along the coast of south-eastern Brazil.

Size:
These birds are 13-15 cm long and weigh around 18 g.

Habitat:
The black-capped becard is found in lowland rainforests, from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.

Diet:
They forage in the upper and mid levels of the forest, eating fruits and insects. They often join mixed-species foraging groups, namely with other becards Pachyramphus sp. and antshrikes Thamnomanes sp.

Breeding:
Black-capped becards breed in September-March. The female lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 18-21 days. The chicks fledge 20-22 days after hatching. Each pair raises a single brood per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. The population is believed to be declining due to ongoing deforestation on the Amazon basin.