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| Blackcap – Sylvia atricailla | |
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The Blackcap is a delightful song bird which is often compared with the Nightingale. Frequents open deciduous or mixed woodlands with well – developed undergrowth, can also be found in large mature gardens but tends to keep well hidden among the vegetation. Widespread summer visitor to most of UK except in the extreme northern & western Isles of Scotland. Scarce winter visitor to southern England and south – eastern Ireland. |
| Indentification |
| Male |
Stocky grey upper bodied warbler with greyish white lower body and a distinctive sooty black cap. |
| Female |
Stocky brownish upper bodied warbler with Buffy lower body and a distinctive chestnut coloured cap. |
| Size |
13 – 15cm |
| Bill |
black, short and thin |
| Legs |
Black: medium in length |
| Habitat |
can be found in gardens with plenty trees, hedges and shrubs; heaths; woods |
| Behaviour |
flits, takes off & lands on vegetation |
| Flocking |
solitary |
| Flight |
flitting |
| Voice |
varied warble |
| Breeding |
| Nest |
trees & bushes |
| Eggs |
lays 5 eggs on average, eggs are white blotched reddish |
| Incubation period |
12 – 13 days |
| Fledgling |
10 – 14 days |
| Broods |
2; May - June |
| Food |
Insects, berries, fruit, sunflower hearts, granulated peanuts, suet treats |
| UK breeding pairs |
breeding pairs UK 590,000 |
| Selection of popular products |
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