Male. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 9th 2021.
(1/2500th sec at f9. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 13.5 - 15 cm

The Blackcap is a medium-sized warbler, about the size of a Great Tit. The male has a black cap on its head, and the female's is rufous-brown. Both have greyish plumage.

Blackcaps can be found in most of the British Isles in the summer. In winter birds are mostly found in England and southern Ireland.

Its breeding habitat is shady woodland with dense understory, and also in parks and gardens.

Blackcaps that breed in Britain are migratory, spending the winter in Africa. Birds from Germany and northern Europe increasingly spend the winter in the British Isles.

There are about 1.2 million breeding territories in the UK, and about 3000 birds spend the winter here.

Sightings

21-Apr-2024	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(1)
19-Apr-2024	:	Rushy Common, Oxon	(h)
17-Apr-2024	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(1)
12-Apr-2024	:	Chimney Meadows, Oxon	(h)
11-Apr-2024	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(h)
04-Apr-2024	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(1)
03-Apr-2024	:	Aston, Oxon	(1)
31-Mar-2024	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(3)
22-Mar-2024	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(1)
06-Jul-2023	:	Ashdown, Oxon	(h)
26-Jun-2023	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1)
23-Jun-2023	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(h)
21-Jun-2023	:	Wimbleball Lake, Somerset	(h)
19-Jun-2023	:	Aston, Oxon	(1)
16-Jun-2023	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(h)
12-Jun-2023	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(h)
02-Jun-2023	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(h)
02-Jun-2023	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(h)
29-May-2023	:	Fineshade Wood, Northants	(h)
28-May-2023	:	Fineshade Wood, Northants	(h)
27-May-2023	:	Barnwell Country Park, Northants	(h)
26-May-2023	:	Barnwell Country Park, Northants	(h)
26-May-2023	:	Bucknell Wood, Northants	(h)
25-May-2023	:	The Coombes, Wilts	(h)
24-May-2023	:	Chimney Meadows, Oxon	(h)
23-May-2023	:	The Coombes, Wilts	(h)
20-May-2023	:	Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon	(h)
18-May-2023	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(h)
16-May-2023	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(h)
13-May-2023	:	Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon	(1+)
03-May-2023	:	Gilfach, Powys	(1)
02-May-2023	:	Cnwch Wood, Powys	(h)
30-Apr-2023	:	The Coombes, Wilts	(h)
28-Apr-2023	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(h)
27-Apr-2023	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(2+)
21-Apr-2023	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(1+)
20-Apr-2023	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(h)
17-Apr-2023	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(3+)
16-Apr-2023	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(1+)
15-Apr-2023	:	Aston, Oxon	(h)
08-Apr-2023	:	Chimney Meadows, Oxon	(3)
04-Apr-2023	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(1)
03-Apr-2023	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(3)
27-Feb-2023	:	Aston, Oxon
02-Jan-2023	:	Aston, Oxon	(1f)
21-Dec-2022	:	Aston, Oxon	(1m)
10-Dec-2022	:	Aston, Oxon	(2)
15-Jul-2022	:	Aston, Oxon	(1)
03-Jul-2022	:	Standlake Common, Oxon	(h)
25-Jun-2022	:	Myers Allotment, Lancashire	(1)