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Eurasian Blackcap
(Sylvia atricapilla)
: "Blackcap"
 German name(s): "Mönchsgrasmücke"
Size: 13.5-15 cm; wing span 20-23 cm
Weight: 16-25 g
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Eurasian Blackcaps are small insectivore birds. Their
plumage is
dimorphic,
i.e.
males and
females
are slightly different.
Both sexes have a light-grey front and a somewhat darker, brownish-grey
back. The irises are dark; the slender, straight bill, the legs and
feet are all grey. The lower half of the eyes is surrounded by a
narrow white semi-circle. The only difference between the sexes is that
male
Eurasian Blackcaps have black caps, while
females
have brown caps.
Juvenile
birds resemble
females,
with a horn-coloured bill and a shorter tail.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Eurasian
Blackcap at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the Barred Warbler is available
HERE
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There are 5 extant races of Eurasian Blackcaps, which are a
partly sedentary, partly migratory species.
Their range of permanent residency ranges from a narrow coastal
margin in NW Africa to basically the western half of Europe and
throughout the northern Mediterranean, up to Cyprus,
with separate resident populations on the Azores, the Cape
Verdian islands and the Canarian islands.
Migratory populations spend the winters in western Africa, both
northward and to the South of the Sahara desert, in eastern
Africa (along the river Nile and southward through the Ethiopian
highlands to areas around Lake Victoria, as far as northern
Tanzania) and parts of the eastern Mediterranean coastline.
The breeding range of migratory Eurasian Blackcaps extends
from the eastern half of central Europe to the southern coast
of the Caspian Sea and from the southern half of Scandinavia
(except the highest mountain regions) to central Asia.
In Europe Eurasian Blackcaps, nominate race "atricapilla",
are permanent residents throughout
the western Mediterranean (including all of Italy and associated
islands), central Europe westward of the river Rhine (except
far northern Ireland and Scotland), Denmark and small coastal
areas in southern Norway. They are also present all year round
in near-coastal parts of Greece.
Anywhere else, apart from the northern half of Scandinavia, where
the species is not found, they are summer breeding migrants.
Eurasian Blackcaps have a strong preference for mature decidious
woodland, especially during the breeding season, but they can
also be found in gardens.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "atricapilla"
M. Thomas reports spotting Eurasian Blackcaps, nominate race
"atricapilla",
in Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in June 2018.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has kindly been contributed by M. Thomas.
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Photos |
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Race "atricapilla"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Near-frontal view of a male Eurasian Blackcap, left, with a
dependent juvenile, right (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2018]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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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]
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.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
