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Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Sylviidae
BTO Codes:
BC , BLACA
EURING No:
12770
Number in Britain:
916 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
atricapilla recorded in Britain (of 5 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
13 cm
Wingspan:
22 cm
Weight:
M/F: 21 g
Scientific name from:
L.: silva =a wood
and L.: ater =black + capillus =capped
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Europe, w Asia, WINTERS: south to tropical Africa
Habitat:
Forest, open woodland, towns
Diet:
Summer, insects, otherwise fruit mainly in scrub, will come to bird-tables in winter
TitBit:
Once regarded as a summer visitor, Blackcaps can now be seen all year round, particularly in the south, but the winter birds are visitors from central Europe rather than British breeders who have stayed on
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
916 thousand territories
in 2000
First Record:
10th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Deciduous Wood
Also common in:
Scrub
And found in:
Villages
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
Average Day of First Arrival:
31 Mar
European Population Size:
Summer:
20 to 41 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
20 x 15 mm
Egg Weight:
2.2 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
96
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
4 - 5 eggs
4.56 ± 0.73 (2 - 7) N = 1255
Incubation:
13 - 14 days
13.14 ± 1.59 (11 - 17) N = 1255
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
11 - 12 days
11.07 ± 1.30 (9 - 13) N = 1410
as:
Altricial, naked
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
10 May (26 Apr - 19 Jun)
Number of Broods:
1-2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
21513
Adult Survival:
0.436
Juvenile Survival:
0.356 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
2
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
10yr8m
(Germany: 11yr 7m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A (pulli B)
Wing Length
Adult:
74.8 ± 2.0
Range
72 - 78 mm, N =24217
Juvenile:
74.6 ± 2.1
72 - 77 mm, N =52901
Male:
74.8 ± 2.0
72 - 78 mm, N =13613
Female:
74.8 ± 2.0
72 - 78 mm, N =10514
Weight
Adult:
17.69 ± 2.04
Range
15.40 - 21.00 g , N =21657
Juvenile:
18.87 ± 2.09
16.00 - 22.70 g , N =48922
Male:
17.36 ± 2.17
15.30 - 20.30 g , N =12124
Female:
18.10 ± 1.80 .
15.60 - 21.50 g , N =9454
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Eurasian Blackcap
Gaelic:
Ceann-dubh
Welsh:
Telor Penddu
Danish:
Munk
Dutch:
Zwartkop
Finnish:
Mustapääkertut
French:
Fauvette à tête noire
German:
Mönchsgrasmücke
Hungarian:
Barátposzáta
Icelandic:
Hettusöngvari
Irish:
Caipín Dubh
Italian:
Capinera
Norwegian:
Munk
Polish:
Kapturka
Portuguese:
Toutinegra-de-barrette-preto
Spanish:
Curruca capirotada
Swedish:
Svarthätta
Local Names: Haychat, Mock Nightingale
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Mason, C.F. 1995 The blackcap Hamlyn, London
[598.915 MAS]
Garcia, E. 1989 The Blackcap and the Garden Warbler Shire Publications, Princes Risborough
[Jour: S]
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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