Birds / Warblers

Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Also known as Eurasian blackcap

Uncommon Summer visitor Woodland Gardens

Test yourself

Recording: Mathias Ritschard / xeno-canto

Sounds like

A quiet, scratchy warm-up that suddenly bursts into a loud, clear, fluty finish.

Remember it

Starts by mumbling, ends by shouting. Old country name: the 'mock nightingale'.

When and where

Listening for the blackcap

Heard: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mar to Jul
Time of day: Dawn and Day
Where: Woodland, Gardens
In Britain: Summer visitor
Family: Warblers

Side by side

Often confused with

Play them one after the other and listen for the difference.

Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

JFMAMJJASOND

Starts by mumbling, ends by shouting. Old country name: the 'mock nightingale'.

Garden Warbler

Sylvia borin

JFMAMJJASOND

Like a blackcap that never reaches the chorus. Despite the name, rarely in gardens.

Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

JFMAMJJASOND

A slow, swelling 'pioo-pioo-pioo' that builds like a sob is the giveaway.

Could you pick out a blackcap?

Hear a song, choose from four birds, and build your streak.

Play the quiz

Same habitat

Also in woodland

See all

Blackbird

Turdus merula

JFMAMJJASOND

Slow, rich, fluting phrases that wander about and often trail off into a quiet chuckle.

Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

JFMAMJJASOND

Two or three thin, high notes followed by a fast, shimmering trill: 'tsee-tsee-tsuhuhuhu'.

Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs

JFMAMJJASOND

A cheerful, accelerating run of notes that tumbles down and ends in a flourish, repeated over and over.

Coal Tit

Periparus ater

JFMAMJJASOND

A fast, high, two-note phrase repeated several times: 'pitchoo-pitchoo-pitchoo'.