Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

This petite warbler, with its distinctive black or brown cap, fills British gardens and woodlands with its rich, flute-like song.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

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.

Size

Length

13cm to 15cm

Wingspan

20cm to 23cm

Weight

14g to 20g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Grey Brown

Secondary Colour

Black Buff

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Grey Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Buff

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Blackcap can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Blackcap can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Blackcap is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Blackcap is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Blackcap is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Blackcap is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Blackcap is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Blackcap is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Blackcap is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Blackcap is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Blackcap is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Blackcap is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

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.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,200 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

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