Photo: Alandmanson / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bush Blackcap
Sylvia nigricapillus
Bush Blackcap (Sylvia nigricapillus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bush Blackcap (Sylvia nigricapillus) is a member of the Sylviidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 29.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Sylviidae Sylviid Babblers
- Genus Sylvia
- Species nigricapillus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 29.6 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Sylviidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bush Blackcap is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Bush Blackcap is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Bush Blackcap (Sylvia nigricapillus) belongs to the Sylviidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 29.6 g, with a wing length of about 8.1 cm and a tail of around 8.1 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 171,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bush Blackcap?
The Bush Blackcap is a small bird that weighs around 29.6 g.
Where does the Bush Blackcap live?
The Bush Blackcap is found across Africa with a range covering AF South Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Bush Blackcap belong to?
The Bush Blackcap (Sylvia nigricapillus) belongs to the Sylviidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Bush Blackcap eat?
The Bush Blackcap is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Bush Blackcap migrate?
The Bush Blackcap is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Bush Blackcap endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Bush Blackcap make?
1 real field recording of the Bush Blackcap — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bush Blackcap's range?
The Bush Blackcap has a mapped global range of about 171,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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