Page 318 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WARBLERS AND ALLIES
Order Passeriformes Family Sylviidae Species Sylvia atricapilla
Blackcap small, narrow
black cap
grey-brown back
stocky build for
plain greyish wings
and tail a warbler
grey face
and throat
MALE

brown cap
pale grey
underside
IN FLIGHT

browner MALE
than male

FEMALE
ne of the more common Sylvia warblers, mostly found in thick
Oundergrowth or bushy woodland, the Blackcap has a brilliant
song and typically hard, unmusical calls.A few stay in northwest FLIGHT: short, quite heavy, flitting, with flurries of
Europe for the winter, and many more in south Europe, especially quick, flicking wingbeats.
in orchards, vineyards, and olive groves. Blackcaps RICH SONG
may visit gardens in autumn to feed on A male’s fast warbling is usually
honeysuckle or other berries, and again in winter distinct from a Garden Warbler’s
when some rely on food put out on bird-tables. longer song, but the Blackcap can
Like other Sylvia warblers, they are not particularly imitate its close relative.
social, but several may feed close together in a tree
such as an elder with an abundance of berries.
VOICE Distinct short, hard tak; song brilliant,
usually short but sometimes prolonged, fast, varied
warbling with bright, clear notes, often accelerating
and growing in volume soon after start.
NESTING Small cup of grass and stems in bush;
4 or 5 eggs; 2 broods;April–July.
FEEDING Takes insects from foliage; also feeds on
many soft, fleshy berries, especially elder.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Breeds in most of Europe except
Iceland and N Scandinavia. In
MARSH TIT larger black rounder SARDINIAN WARBLER 32; summer in N Europe; increasing
similar to 32; cap head see p.318 in UK in winter, more in Spain,
see p.347
big black Portugal, Italy, and Balkans. In
black hood of woods, parks, and large bushy
chin plainer male gardens, with plenty of thick
and browner
undergrowth.
GARDEN WARBLER
similar to 32; Seen in the UK
stockier see p.314 long tail J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 13cm (5in) Wingspan 20–23cm (8–9in) Weight 14–20g ( 1 ⁄2 – 11 ⁄16oz)
Social Solitary Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Secure
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