Eurasian Blackcap
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla ), female with reddish brown cap
The blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla ) is a passerine bird in the genus of warblers. It is the commonest warbler in Central Europe.
- 8.1 Notes and references
- 8.2 Literature
Description
The blackcap 13.5 to 15 centimeters long and has a wingspan of 20-23 centimeters. It weighs 15-22 grams.
The top is dark gray, the underside olive-gray. The throat and the under tail-coverts are bright, the iris always black. The tail is always dark, lighter at the base and without white. The flanks are tinged slightly brown, more in females and young birds than in males. The beak and legs are gray.
For the males, the black feather cap is characteristic of the scientific species name " atricapilla " (Latin for " black heads " ) refers to this. The females and young birds have a red-brown cap. Males in the first winter have a brown, black or mixed of both colors cap.
Voice
The typical song begins with a softly babbling verse and then suddenly increases in volume. This consisting of flute- tones, short verses sound " about beating ". In this now and again sounds similar to sounds and partly imitations of other birds to be inserted. The song is, especially after returning from the wintering area, presented with the onset of courtship long and persistent and increases with increasing brood Time. As of mid- July, he is rarely heard.
The motifs of the singing be learned by the young male birds and are thus delivered. They sing for the first time in the fall, this autumn song has shorter verses. Due to the large distribution area of the blackcap is some dialects have developed, that is, there are localized differences in song to watch. So the loud rollover in song can regionally in a simplified form, the so-called lyres, occur.
In addition to the singing is often a smacking sound forming excitement to hear about how " tak " or " tek ", which is reminiscent of successive hitting pebbles and repeated several times in rapid succession. In quicker succession as " dede dede " or " daily daily daily ... ". The alarm call is a harsh " rree " or " schräit ". The Ortungsruf of fledged young birds is a very typical " idat ", which can be heard from April to September and by the adult birds in the breeding grounds. Often this is the only utterance in the wintering area in the Mediterranean.
Area of distribution and habitat
The blackcap is found throughout Europe except Iceland, northern Scandinavia and the northern tips of the British Isles. To the south is the distribution limit in Northwest Africa and the Black Sea. In the East the dissemination extends to the Westsajan and the Caspian Sea.
In Central Europe, the blackcap is almost widely disseminated, with the exception of tree - and shrub -free areas and the high mountains from about 1500 meters above sea level, with the highest densities in lowland forests, moist mixed forests and shady parks. Treeless shrub stocks are shunned. She considers herself outside the breeding season usually in bushes, which bear many berries, then in open countryside. In wintering area it is very versatile in their choice of habitat. The Blackcap also breeds in the middle of major cities in bush rich and tree-lined gardens and parks. In the selection of breeding coalfield blackcap warbler is the most versatile of Central Europe. Preference is given to semi-shady places before dry, open, sunny areas. She prefers hardwoods over coniferous forest, but may locally even more in evergreen vegetation, such as ivy or laurel forests occur.
Migration
The breed in northern and eastern Europe blackcaps are medium-and long -distance migrants in Western and Central Europe, they are short-and medium -distance migrant and breeding in the Mediterranean region are partially migratory. The on the Atlantic Islands (Canary Islands, Madeira and Cape Verde) breeding blackcaps show no migratory behavior.
The wintering areas are dependent on the Zugdistanz, ranging from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in western and southern Europe to South Africa. A growing number of individuals already wintered in Central Europe.
Since the 1960s, parts of the South German and Austrian population have taken a more northwesterly migration route that leads them to Britain. In addition to climatic changes, this is mainly attributed to the UK widespread bird feeding. Because the more northwest withdrawing individuals have begun to differ in beak shape, wing shape and color of the main population, it is believed that is forming a new ( sub) species here.
Food
The food is the breeding season of insects and their larvae and spiders. Berries and fruits are from the summer until March an important part of the diet, unlike the other warblers. The boys are also so fed. In the spring of nectar and stamens are used, for example, of almond blossoms.
Reproduction
Their nest is built, the blackcap low in dense bushes, as half-open bowl of grasses, moss and roots. The nest usually consists of five eggs, which are incubated for 10 to 15 days. The young birds leave after 10 to 14 days the nest.
System
There are five sub-species, but morphologically hardly differ.
- S. a atricapilla Linnaeus 1758, the nominate, comes north in Europe the Mediterranean Sea against
- S. a dammholzi Stresemann in 1928, comes in the Caucasus to northern Iran ago
- S. a pauluccii Arrigoni 1902, occurs in the central and eastern Mediterranean
- S. a heineken Jardine in 1830, is found in Madeira, the Canary Islands, in the south of the Iberian Peninsula and North West Africa
- S. a gularis Alexander in 1898, occurs on the Cape Verdi Islands and the Azores
Inventory and risk
The total portfolio of Blackcap in Europe is 25 to 49 million breeding pairs, with a slightly increasing trend. Locally, the inventory vary by more than 50 percent. Lately inventory increases and sometimes complex expansions in Germany and Austria were found increased. In Germany, the blackcap is seen with 2.6 to 3.3 million breeding pairs in 2008 than currently eight most common Brutvogelart. The blackcap is currently considered not at risk.