Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla heineken (Jardine, 1830)

Melanistic form

Melanistic form

Description
The subspecies S. a. heineken of Blackcap is endemic to Macaronesia, being easily identified by its loud song and non-musical calls, at times not unlike those of the Blackbird. Its body is grey, the back being darker than the inner part, and the males have a black cap, while the cap on the females is reddish-brown. There is also a melanistic variety of this species, whose color is darker, with all head with the same color as the cap, due to a recessive gene.

Distribution
The Blackcap is a very common bird on the island of Madeira, contrary to the other islands of the Archipelago, where it is considered a migratory bird.

Habitat
This bird does not have a specific habitat, but it can be generally said to inhabit relatively dense shrubby areas up to a maximum altitude of 1000 meters, being rarely found in the Laurel forest.

Breeding
It builds its nests in shrubs and lays 4 to 5 eggs of various shades of color. The incubation is shared by the breeding pair, whose song is louder and more complete during this time, in defense of their territory. The young hatch from the eggs in about 15 days, and two weeks later they make their first flight.
Their European congener lays eggs twice a year, in April and in July.

Curiosities
According to legend, when a blackcap’s nest had 5 eggs in it, the last egg laid would be of the melanistic variety. This was to explain why the melanistic individuals were much less common than the non-melanistic birds.

Madeiran name: Toutinegra
Madeira Archipelago resident breeder
Social: Solitary
Length: 12 - 14 cm
Status: Secure