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Eurasian Blackcap

(Sylvia atricapilla)
Alternate name(s): "Blackcap"
German name(s): "Mönchsgrasmücke"

Size: 13.5-15 cm; wing span 20-23 cm
Weight: 16-25 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Eurasian Blackcap at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "atricapilla"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal/ventral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap issuing its call (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Between Walluf and Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2022]

Near-frontal view of a male Eurasian Blackcap, left, with a dependent juvenile, right (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2018]

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Villeneuve-Loubet, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France, February 2021]

FEMALE

Near-lateral view of a female Eurasian Blackcap looking at the observer (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, November 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Male Eurasian Blackcap, left, feeding a dependent juvenile, right; note the stubby tail of the young bird
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2018]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2018]

Race "heineken"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Eurasian Blackcap looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira de Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Braganca, Portugal, January 2022]

Frontal/ventral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Near-frontal view of a male Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Tras-os-Montes, Norte, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap with its crest erected (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a singing male Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2018]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2020]

Frontal view of a female Eurasian Blackcap looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira de Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Braganca, Portugal, January 2022]

Near-frontal view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2015]

Near-frontal view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2020]

Lateral view of a female Eurasian Blackcap looking at the observer (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Evora, Portugal, February 2020]

Lateral view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2021]

Lateral view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2015]

Lateral view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2015]

Lateral view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Barragem da Vilarica, Alfandega da Fe, Tras os Montes, Portugal, December 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2017]

Dorsal view of a female Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a female Eurasian Blackcap in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moreanes, near Mertola, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

PAIR


Although not in one photo, these two Eurasian Blackcaps were found together; lateral views of a male, top, and female, bottom (photos courtesy of J. Pires)
[Madeira, Portugal, November 2022]

Race "pauluccii"

ADULT

MALE

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap looking away from the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Eurasian Blackcap taking a berry (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Casa de Campo, Madrid, Spain, December 2019]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Blackcap with its meal (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, March 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a male Eurasian Blackcap taking a blackberry (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a female Eurasian Blackcap taking a berry (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Casa de Campo, Madrid, Spain, December 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

blakcap_dw_20200531.m4a atricapilla
(Poland)
Territorial calls © DW
 
blakcap_jp_20200531.m4a heineken
(Portugal)
Territorial call © JP
blakcap_jp_20180422.m4a heineken
(Portugal)
Territorial call © JP
blakcap_jp_20200428_3.m4a heineken
(Portugal)
Territorial call © JP
blakcap_jp_20200418.m4a heineken
(Portugal)
Territorial calls © JP
blakcap_jp_20230222.mp3 heineken
(Portugal)
Territorial calls © JP
blakcap_jp_20200428_2.m4a heineken
(Portugal)
Territorial calls © JP
blakcap_jp_20190412.m4a heineken
(Portugal)
Territorial calls (Q&A) © JP
blakcap_jp_20190528.m4a heineken
(Portugal)
Territorial calls (+ Eurasian Wren, Short-toed Treecreeper) © JP
blakcap_jp_20200428.m4a heineken
(Portugal)
Alarm calls © JP

More Eurasian Blackcap sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.