How do you identify a blackcap? How do you recognize their song and how do males and females differ? We answer these and other questions about the powerful-voiced singer in our detailed profile.
Although the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is a very common songbird species, many garden owners go unaware of it. This is probably due to their rather inconspicuous shape and habit of hiding in thick bushes and well-leaved trees. In contrast to this covered demeanor, however, her vocals are far from understated. And once you have internalized the melodious and concise bird call of the blackcap, you will recognize it everywhere in the summer months. The monk is also the most common of our five native warblers and - contrary to expectations - a more regular garden visitor than the closely related garden warbler (Sylvia borin). You can find more exciting facts and vivid pictures of the blackcap in our profile below.
Blackcap: Wanted Poster
| Size | About 13 - 15 cm |
| Weight | About 15 - 20 g |
| Incubation | April - June |
| Lifetime | About 5 years |
| Habitat | Forests, parks and gardens with lots of undergrowth |
| Food Preference | Insects, Worms, Snails, Berries and Fruits |
| Threats | Declining food and natural habitat |
Detect Blackcaps
Blackcaps are small, about tit-sized songbirds with short, pointed beaks. The back, tail and elytra are colored uniformly gray and form a slight contrast to the slightly lighter underside. The monk's only distinctive feature is its intensely colored cap, which is jet black in males and rusty brown in females. Even if there is a high degree of similarity between the representatives of the warblers and thus a certain risk of confusion, theBlackcaps are always recognizable with this eye-catching headgear.
What does the song of the blackcap sound like?
The song of the blackcap consists of a loud, powerful and melodic verse reminiscent of a sweeter and less throaty version of the blackbird song. Sometimes this verse is preceded by a more subtle, chattering prelude that is harder to pinpoint. But the concise main part is never long in coming and can undoubtedly be assigned to the blackcap.
You can listen to the blackcap song here:
In addition to the characteristic song, the monk also has a second bird's voice: a call that sounds like two pebbles being knocked together. The hard "teck" can also act as a warning call when strung together quickly: "Teck-teck-teck-teck-teck".
How do you recognize blackcap juveniles?
The young birds of the blackcap are colored similar to the female and also have a red-brown cap at the beginning. Due to this feature, the young animals can be identified very early on. In the late year and in their first winter, the male young birds already show a dark brown to black cap and in the next spring they present themselves in the fully adult plumage.
What habitat do blackcaps prefer?
The blackcap is found almost everywhere in Europe - with the exception of the northernmost areas and the high mountains - and in large parts of North Africa. It inhabits a wide range of habitats, from dense forests to semi-open landscapes to parks and wild gardens. A mixture of trees and well-grown shrub layers is important to her.
Where does the blackcap build its nest?
Blackcap nests are found in low vegetation - in dense bushes about a meter above the ground. The male starts building the nest first when he returns from his winter quarters in the spring. The burrow is interrupted again and again by long, impressive song interludes, with which a potential female is to be attracted. Once a pair has finally found each other, the nest is completed together.
When do blackcaps haveBreeding season?
Blackcap breeding season is from April to July. The female lays four to five brownish-white eggs marked with black spots, which are incubated alternately by both parents. After about two weeks, the little young birds hatch and stay in the nest for about 12 more days and are fed with insects and berries. After the little blackcaps have fledged and left the nest, they are assisted by their parents in foraging for some time. After that, the young are on their own and the parents often begin another brood.
Where do blackcaps hibernate?
Blackcaps are migratory birds and leave their breeding grounds in late spring. The majority of our native populations migrate southwest and spend the winter in the Mediterranean. An ever-increasing part of the stock overwinters in Great Britain. In recent decades, the living conditions for the songbirds there have improved due to milder winters and generous feedings, and due to the shorter distance, the monks return to their breeding grounds earlier from there. This gives the birds wintering in the British Isles a competitive advantage over the Mediterranean individuals.
How to support blackcaps in the garden?
The small songbirds with the great voice are frequent visitors to domestic gardens. During the breeding season, their abundant birdcalls can be heard throughout the day. If you want to do something good for the talented singers, here are some tips for creating a bird paradise.
What food do birds prefer?
Blackcaps have a very diverse diet. The main part of their diet consists of small animals such as insects and their larvae, worms and snails. But they also use vegetarian food, such as berries and other fruits. For this reason, the monks can return from their winter quarters quite early. Since they do not have to wait for the insects to be offered, they can be seen here from March. Nevertheless, due to the migration behavior, the classic winter feeding is of course not necessary with us. But if you haven't removed your bird feeder in March, you can still see the blackcap competing for food with blue tit, blackbird and Co.
The monks are interested in thisespecially for soft feed mixtures and fruit. For example, you can offer the songbirds our Plantura all-season food, which contains rich seeds, raisins and soft oat flakes. An extra load of proteins and an addition of feed lime also make our all-season feed an optimal additional feed for expectant bird parents.
What nesting aids are suitable for blackcaps?
Classic nest boxes, such as those used for blue tits or starlings, are not suitable for blackcaps. Because the monks are free breeders and therefore do not use closed structures as nesting sites. If you still want to ensure sufficient nesting opportunities, you should rely on the creation of more natural structures. Blackcaps love dense undergrowth where they can hide their low-level nests. Therefore, do not thin out your hedges and shrubs too much and ensure a dense undergrowth in your garden. And with a bit of luck, you'll soon be able to watch the monks incubate with your own eyes.
How can you support blackcaps?
Since blackcaps feed not only on insects but also on berries and fruits, there are a number of bird-friendly plants that can expand the diet of the little birds. But you can also provide animal food by ensuring an insect-friendly garden design. In particular, the use of chemical sprays should be avoided, which often contain insect-toxic substances and thus not only reduce the number of insects, but can also harm the birds via the food chain. On the other hand, if you want to bring extra life into your garden, you can use our Plantura beneficial insect magnet to create a true paradise for pollinators, pest controllers and other small garden animals, many of which are also on the menu of the blackcap.
The marsh tit, for example, closely resembles a male blackcap at a distance, as both wear a black feather cap. In our species portrait you will learn how to recognize the marsh tit without a doubt and how to distinguish it from other tit species.