Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

Named after the male’s signature black cap, this little bird arrives in the UK each spring, bringing with it the sweet sound of its beautiful song.

The blackcap favours woodland habitats.

Credit: Amy Lewis / WTML

The male has a distinctive black cap, hence the name.

Credit: Ray Wilson / Alamy Stock Photo

The female has a chestnut-brown cap.

Credit: Jim Wilson / WTML

This species creates cup-shaped nests.

Credit: Stephen Dalton / naturepl.com

The blackcap’s eggs are creamy-white in colour.

Credit: Andy Sands / naturepl.com

Quick facts

Common name: blackcap

Scientific name: Sylvia atricapilla

Family: Sylviidae (warblers)

Habitat: woodland, gardens, parks

Diet: flies, insects, caterpillars, berries

Predators: sparrowhawks, domestic cats

Origin: native

What do blackcaps look like?

The blackcap is a grey warbler, easily identified by its distinctive cap. Males have black caps (as the name suggests), while the female’s cap is chestnut brown. Juvenile males also have a brown cap. They have thin, dark-coloured beaks and brownish-grey wings. They are a similar size to robins, measuring around 13cm in length and weighing in at around 21g.

Not to be confused with: marsh or willow tits. The blackcap lacks the black bib both these species have.

What do blackcaps eat?

Blackcaps eat a diet mostly made up of insects, including flies and caterpillars. Unlike the majority of warblers, they also enjoy eating berries, and are particularly fond of mistletoe berries. They are actually extremely efficient at spreading mistletoe seeds, eating the flesh of the berry and wiping the seed on a branch, allowing it to potentially germinate there.

Blackcap fledglings hiding in the bushes

Credit: Ian Redman / WTML

How do blackcaps breed?

Breeding birds arrive in the UK in the spring, building cup-shaped nests in shrubs and hedges. Four to five eggs are laid from late April to June, and hatch 11–12 days later. The chicks will fledge around 12–14 days after hatching, and are assisted with feeding for a further two–three weeks.

Did you know?

The blackcap is known as the ‘northern nightingale’ and the ‘mock nightingale’ due to its delightful fluting song.

Do blackcaps migrate?

While these birds are traditionally summer visitors, typically arriving in March and April and migrating south for the autumn, we have an increasing wintering population in the UK.

Credit: Allan Roffey / WTML

Where do blackcaps live?

Blackcaps favour woodland habitats, but will venture into parks and gardens if there are lots of trees and shrubs available. They occur throughout the UK, with the exception of the Scottish Highlands.

Did you know?

Around 1.1 million pairs of blackcaps are believed to live in the UK during summer.

Signs and spotting tips

Fill your garden with trees and shrubs and get a bird feeder to increase the chance of one visiting you. In the summer it’s often heard before it’s seen – listen out for its melodic, fluting song.