Sylvia atricapilla - Blackcap
Feather characters. Barbules are extremely short (0.45-0.48 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (44-48 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 14 cm. Weight 15.5 g (11.8-20.9) (Dunning, 1993). Easily identified by black crown in male and rusty-red crown in female. Plumage otherwise grey on neck and face, brownish on remainder of upperparts and tail and greyish-white underparts. No white in tail. Dark crown does not reach below the eye and is much more limited than in tits. Juvenile has red crown, as female. Active, but usually not easy to see, except sometimes for singing male or foraging bird in autumn.
Voice. Call sharp 'tec', sometimes rattling, also 'churr'. Song like Garden Warbler, but ending calm with loud, clear whistling notes.
Distribution. Common summer visitor. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Deciduous woods, parks, gardens, etc., with dense crown and undergrowth but open middle storey. More in wooded areas than Garden Warbler.
Food. Insects and berries, mostly found in trees and shrub, but sometimes on the ground.