Blackcaps

The blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is a small migratory bird. It’s commoner here in Britain than it used to be.

Now that climates and bird tables are changing, each autumn sees some blackcaps leaving Britain for warmer climates, some arriving in Britain from colder climates. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) tells us how blackcap migrations are changing. I’m grateful to my fellow blogger Finn Holding at The Naturephile for drawing attention to the BTO factsheet, and for showing us what blackcaps are doing on his bird feeders.

I asked whether blackcaps are outstaying their welcome. Well, they’re here. We have to get used to it. And how could anybody fail to like this bird? It can be aggressive to other birds but still, it’s charming and so is its name. This classic song about Sylvia may not be anything to do with birdwatching but I like it anyway.

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