A Birdwatcher’s Guide to the Blackcap

2 min read
A Birdwatcher’s Guide to the Blackcap

Blackcaps are charming little birds with a beautiful, fluting song and belong to the warbler family. Once seen only in summer, they are now year-round residents in parts of the UK, joined by a growing population of winter visitors from central Europe who make the most of our relatively mild climate and well-stocked bird feeders. They’re particularly fond of suet and mealworms, and once a blackcap discovers a reliable bird table, it will often become a regular guest, returning day after day with remarkable loyalty. The male is easy to identify thanks to the neat black cap that gives the species its name, while the female and young birds have a chestnut-brown crown that offers better camouflage in the undergrowth. Our summer migrants arrive from North Africa and the Middle East from around mid-March and make their homes in shady woodland, tangled hedgerows, brambles, and mature gardens. Despite their sweet song, blackcaps can be surprisingly feisty, especially during the breeding season – both males and females are territorial and will defend feeding spots and nesting areas from other birds with an impressive show of aggression and loud bursts of song.

The male builds a number of starter nests to tempt potential mates, who will choose their preferred one and line it with roots and soft grasses. From May to July, the pair may raise up to two broods of four to five pale, speckled eggs, taking turns to incubate them for around 11 to 13 days. The chicks fledge before they’re able to fly, scrabbling about in the undergrowth while their parents keep them fed with caterpillars and, later in the season, beetles and other protein-rich insects. Nests are incredibly fragile – loose cups of fine twigs, usually nestled in brambles – and can be very vulnerable to predators such as cats, magpies and jays. Blackcaps are mostly monogamous and often return to the same nesting sites each year. With over 1.7 million territories recorded, they’re on the green list in the UK, which means they’re not currently under threat. The collective noun for blackcaps is a confusion, and they’ve also been referred to in older texts as nettlecreepers or blackbonnets. In Cyprus, they were once hunted in large numbers and served as a delicacy, often trapped illegally with limesticks and mistnets – a practice that is now banned, though it sadly still persists in some areas. According to Cypriot folklore, migrating blackcaps are carried in on the backs of storks each year, a poetic image for such a sprightly, secretive bird.

Ready to deepen your connection with the birds in your garden? Discover more about your feathered friends and how to attract them to your space with Amidst the Birdsong: A Garden Birdwatcher's Journal. This beautifully crafted journal is the perfect companion for anyone looking to observe and learn about the birds visiting their garden. Start your birdwatching journey today – click here to learn more.

Meet the author!

Clare Cahill is an enthusiastic bird lover with a passion for observing and learning about the incredible variety of birds around us. While she doesn’t have a formal degree in ornithology, Clare has dedicated countless hours to reading birding books and exploring nature, constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her love for wildlife.

For Clare, birdwatching brings a sense of calm and connection to the world, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She believes that the more we connect with nature, the more we can do to protect and conserve it. Through her writing, Clare hopes to inspire others to take a moment to pause, look up, and appreciate the wonderful birds that share our spaces.

Meet Clare

The seasonal bird food brand

We're a little company, supporting little birds. Find out more about what sets us apart.

  • Seasonal

    Birds have different dietary needs throughout the year, from nesting to moulting and surviving colder months. To support these changes, we’ve created seasonal blends – order a Seasonal Bird Food bag, and we’ll adjust the blend to match the season, making it easy to do something great for the birds.

  • Sustainable

    Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We don't farm, process, and transport cheap filler ingredients that birds simply kick to the floor. Instead, we focus on premium ingredients they love. Our packaging is compostable, and our bird feeders and nest boxes are tested for durability and longevity.

  • Songbird

    We design our food and select our range of feeders with little birds in mind. Every ingredient in our blends is chosen because small birds love it, simplifying your bird feeding routine. Our feeders provide safe access to food while helping to keep out larger, more dominant species. Look out for robins, blue tits, wrens, finches and more visiting your garden for our food.

  • Support

    With birds in your garden, you’re never alone - they’re the friends who always visit. Feeding them supports wildlife conservation while bringing joy and calm. Whether spotting a new species or simply watching their daily routines, just ten minutes a day strengthens your connection with nature and boosts your wellbeing.

When life feels busy, the birds keep it simple.

There’s something lovely about how feeding the birds becomes part of the rhythm of your day. A scoop of seed, a clean dish of water - and then a pause, just to watch who turns up. It doesn’t have to take long, but those moments can be surprisingly grounding. A little burst of mindfulness, fresh air, a chance to notice your garden as it changes throughout the seasons, and the cheerful flutter of wings - it’s good for the soul.

Join our flock of bird enthusiasts who share a passion for sustainable and thoughtful bird feeding.

Start Your Bird Food Subscription

Shop our bestsellers

From our popular seasonal bird food to the Squirrel Buster squirrel resistant bird feeder, our range is designed to help you to create a haven for little birds in your garden.