| Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla - Family: Sylviidae
 Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla© Bob GibbonsBlackcaps are members of the warbler family and have a rich, beautiful, flute-like song quite similar to that of the garden warbler but perhaps less frantically delivered! They have plain grey plumage but the sexes differ, with the male having a jet-black crown whereas the female's is chestnut brown. Blackcaps are summer visitors to England. With milder climatic conditions generally prevailing, increasing numbers of blackcaps are now seen during the winter in wooded habitats and especially in suburban gardens, where they account for many windfall apples. They also eat most berries and take advantage of other food provided by householders. Ringing records show that these wintering individuals are not British breeding birds, which migrate to the Mediterranean and Africa, but birds from central Europe. The blackcap is flourishing in Britain and is expanding both in numbers and breeding range. Holly and dense ivy are sometimes used for nesting but if you have space for a patch of garden to grow a little wild, you may be rewarded by blackcaps nesting in thick brambles, stinging nettles and elder. You can increase the chances of getting such birds if you toss in some dead or pruned branches. This will also save you the problem of otherwise disposing of them! FoodMostly small tree-living insects during breeding season. In winter, feeds also on fruit. Very fond of apples, fat and grated cheese! Predator of bugs, froghoppers, spiders and harvestmen, flies, thrips, beetles and sawflies. PlantsApple, Blackthorn, Bramble, Buckthorn, Elder, Firethorn, Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, Ivy, Midland hawthorn, Tree cotoneaster, Wall spray, Wild cherry PreyBeetles, Bugs, Flies, Froghoppers and leafhoppers, Moths, Sawflies, Spiders and harvestmen PredatorsSparrowhawk |
