Blackcap Bird Facts (Sylvia atricapilla)

The Blackcap is a small, sleek warbler with a distinctive appearance. Males have a neat black cap on top of their grey head and neck, contrasting with olive-brown upperparts and pale grey underparts. Their wings are darker grey-brown.

Females are different to males, with a rusty-brown cap, while juveniles lack the cap entirely, showing an overall greyish-brown plumage. Both sexes have a slender black bill and grey legs.

The Blackcap can be found in Woodland habitats.

The Blackcap can be found in Garden habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Urban habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Blackcap is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Blackcaps thrive in various wooded habitats, from deciduous and mixed forests to parks and gardens with dense undergrowth. They are widespread across Europe and extend into western Asia and northern Africa.

While traditionally migratory, with most birds wintering in southern Europe and Africa, an increasing number now overwinter in the UK and other parts of northern Europe, especially in urban areas with reliable food sources.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Blackcap. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Cyprus Malta South Sudan

Species that pass through the area during migration

Bahrain Iraq Kuwait Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Yemen

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Benin Cameroon Chad Greenland Mongolia Rwanda Seychelles South Africa Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Zimbabwe

This feature is in beta. We'd love your feedback to improve it!

Share your thoughts

Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Blackcap demonstrates remarkable agility, with its ability to flit swiftly through foliage and perform hovering manoeuvres whilst foraging. This nimbleness is essential for their insectivorous diet and navigation through dense woodland habitats.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a small warbler, the Blackcap's strength is relatively modest. Whilst capable of the physical demands of migration and nest-building, their size limits their overall strength compared to larger avian species.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Blackcaps exhibit exceptional adaptability, having altered their migratory patterns in response to climate change and human activity. Their ability to thrive in various habitats, from forests to urban gardens, and switch between insectivorous and frugivorous diets, showcases their remarkable adaptability.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

During breeding season, male Blackcaps display considerable aggression in defending their territories, engaging in vocal battles. However, outside of this period, they are generally not overly aggressive, maintaining a balanced score in this attribute.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Blackcap's endurance is noteworthy, particularly considering their migratory nature. Many undertake long-distance flights between Europe and Africa, demonstrating significant stamina. Their ability to survive in various climates and altitudes up to 1500 metres further supports their robust endurance.

Blackcaps are primarily insectivorous during the breeding season, feasting on caterpillars, flies, and spiders. In autumn and winter, they switch to a more frugivorous diet, relishing berries and fruits. This dietary flexibility has contributed to their success in adapting to various habitats.

Blackcaps are known for their agile movements, often seen flitting through foliage in search of insects. They exhibit a unique 'hovering' behaviour while foraging, momentarily suspending themselves to pluck berries or insects from leaves.

During the breeding season, males become fiercely territorial, engaging in vocal battles to defend their nesting areas.

The Blackcap's song is a rich, flute-like warble, often described as one of the most beautiful of any European bird. It typically begins with a series of soft, warbling notes before building to a loud, clear crescendo. Their call is a sharp, repetitive 'tack' or 'chack' sound.

Blackcap breeding season typically begins in late April or early May. Males establish territories and attract females with melodious songs, often engaging in elaborate courtship displays.

Nests are built low in shrubs or small trees, usually by the female. The nest is a neat cup made of grass, roots, and hair. Females lay 4-6 eggs, pale in colour with brown speckles.

Both parents share incubation duties for about 11-12 days. Nestlings fledge after another 11-12 days, but parents feed them for several weeks after leaving the nest.

The Blackcap typically lives for 5 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 13.8 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While currently listed as Least Concern, Blackcaps face challenges from habitat loss and climate change. Their adaptability to urban gardens has helped maintain populations, but conservation efforts focus on preserving diverse woodland habitats and monitoring migratory patterns affected by changing temperatures.

Listen for their rich, flute-like song, especially in spring and early summer
Look for movement in the middle and upper layers of woodland or garden trees
Observe bird tables in UK gardens during winter, where some Blackcaps now overwinter
Pay attention to the distinctive cap colour to differentiate males from females

Main predators include sparrowhawks, domestic cats, and corvids such as jays and magpies, which often target eggs and nestlings.

Blackcaps can remember the locations of feeders for years, returning to the same gardens each winter.
They are among the few birds that have changed their migratory patterns due to human activities and climate change.
Male Blackcaps can learn to mimic the songs of other bird species, incorporating them into their repertoire.

Already have an account?

0/500 characters (minimum 20 required)

Visual Identification

Appearance

Size

Colours

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Distribution

Elevation Range

Climate zones

Distribution Map

Distribution by Region

Get Bird Updates in Your Inbox

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

Bird Attributes Explained

Attribute Categories:

Understanding the Ratings:

Agility

Strength

Adaptability

Aggressiveness

Endurance

Diet

Behaviour

Vocalisation

Nesting & Breeding

Lifespan

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Population Data

Rarity Index

Birdwatching Tips

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Family:

Predators

Did You Know?

Was this bird profile helpful?

Community Experience

Community Ratings

Latest Community Reviews

No reviews yet

Community Reviews

Create Your Free Account Welcome Back!

Rate Blackcap

Similar Birds

Sardinian Warbler

Garden Warbler

References