Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Genus · Sylvia Warblers Family · Sylviid Warblers and Allies
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Berry bushesCanopy foliageForest undergrowth

Look for the distinctive black or brown cap. Listen for its rich, fluting song that ends in clear, whistled notes.

Eurasian Blackcap

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats
Wingspan20–23 cm
Weight14–20 g
Length13–15 cm
Lifespan wild2–11 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeCup
Clutch size4–6 eggs
Incubation10–15 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationPartial migratory
Social BehaviourSolitary

Diet: Omnivore

🫐Berries
🍎Fruits
🦗Insects
🕷️Spiders

Habitat

🚜 Farmland🌳 Forest deciduous🌲🌳 Forest mixed🏡 Garden🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

Some Blackcaps have started wintering in northern Europe rather than Africa, and this new migration strategy is slowly splitting the population into different groups.

About

An elegant warbler known for its beautiful, fluting song. It is a widespread summer visitor. Some populations now winter in Europe instead of Africa. It favors deciduous woodlands with thick undergrowth. It is more often heard than seen, as it spends much of its time hidden among dense foliage.

Behaviour

Blackcaps are restless foragers. They pick insects from leaves and switch to berries in autumn. The male's song starts with a scratchy warble and ends in loud, flute-like notes. They are often aggressive toward other birds at winter feeders.

Sexual Dimorphism

♂ Male

Greyish-olive above and pale grey below. He has a distinctive, neat jet-black cap that reaches the eye.

♀ Female

Similar body color to the male. Her cap is a warm chestnut-brown rather than black. Juveniles also have brown caps.

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