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Trees- ShrubsBlack Cap (Sylvia atricapilla)
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There are 25 other species of Sylvia warblers (1), all are Old World species. The Whitethroat (S. communis) has a similar large range to that of the Blackcap’s (2).
The Blackcap is a small warbler, weighing between 14 to 20g and 14 cm in length (3). The male is grey brown on top, pale grey underneath and carries a distinctive blackcap (4). The female Blackcap is browner and has a reddish-brown cap (4). The caps do not go below eye level (3).
The calls of Sylvia atricapilla are a sharp “chack,” “tek” and “churrr” (3) (5). The alarm call is a vigorous “tek-tek-tek-tyekchurr” (5). The song starts with a squeaky beginning then becomes a clear rich melody of high flute notes (5). The song is somewhat similar but shorter than the Garden Warbler’s (Sylvia borin) (3) (4). The Blackcap has been known to mimic other bird’s songs (3).
Blackcaps are solitary, though several individuals may feed in the same tree at the same time. They are territorial birds during the breeding season, and males with a high song rate have been found to hold territories of better quality. Both males and females will participate in parental care, though males with a better territory spend less time helping the female feed the chicks (6).
Blackcaps favour thick undergrowth and bushy woodlands of temperate, subtropical and tropical forests, shrub lands and savannas (7). They are also found in arable land, orchards, vineyards, olive groves, woods, gardens and parks (4).
Sylvia atricapilla build small cups of grass and stems in bushes, nettles and brambles (3). During the breeding season (April to July), two broods of four or five eggs are laid after an incubation of 10 to 12 days (3) (4). Blackcaps breed in most of Europe except for Iceland and Northern Scandinavia (8).
Blackcaps occur in most of Europe, Africa, and Central Asia (7). The global Blackcap population is estimated to be 10 million individuals and increasing (7).
Blackcaps of the Mediterranean and small groups from NW Europe are residents all year round (5). Western European populations migrate to the west Mediterranean and tropical west Africa; East European population migrate southeast (5).
During the breeding season, the Blackcap feeds largely on insects taken from foliage such as the froghopper (Philaenus spumarius), otherwise, it favours soft fleshy berries, especially elder (4). In the autumn, the Blackcap will visit gardens to feed on honeysuckle and other types of berries, and in winter to feed from the bird-tables (4).
Sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) are known to prey upon the Blackcap.
IUCN Red List = Least Concern (1)
Description written by Maite Guignard (2009)
(1) IUCN (2009) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [online] Available:
http://www.iucnredlist.org [date accessed: 24/06/2009]
(2) Bird Life International (2008) Species Factsheet: Sylvia communis [online] Available:
http://www.birdlife.org [date accessed: 08/05/2009]
(3) Perrins. C. (1987) Collins New Generation Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe, Collins, London
(4) Hume. R. (2002) RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe, Dorling Kindersley, London
(5) Jonsson. L. (1992) Birds of Europe, Christopher Helm Ltd., London
(6) Moller. A.P., and Thornhill. R. (1998) Male parental care, differential parental investment by females and sexual selection, Animal Behaviour, 55: 1507–1515
(7) Bird Life International (2008) Species Factsheet: Sylvia atricapilla [online] Available:
http://www.birdlife.org [date accessed: 06/05/2009]
(8) Handrinos. G., and Akriotis. T. (1997) The Birds of Greece, Christopher Helm Ltd., London
