Bush Blackcap - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by peterday
Himeville, South Africa, January 2019

Alternative name: Blackcap Mountain Babbler

Sylvia nigricapillus

Lioptilus nigricapillus

Identification

Length 16-18 cm, mass 30 g
Adult: Head is capped black to mantle and below the eye. The rest of the upperparts are brown and the underparts are pale grey. The bill is orange-pink, the eyes are brown and the legs and feet are pale pink.

Distribution

Eastern South Africa and western eSwatini. Populations breeding at high altitudes migrate to lower altitudes in winter.

Taxonomy

Formerly placed in the genus Lioptilus.

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Forest patches, forest margins and scrubby vegetation including short woody Leucosidea and Buddleja thickets.

Behaviour

Often solitary. Inconspicuous unless calling.

Diet

Food is mainly fruit, but includes insects.

Breeding

The nest is a cup built by both sexes using plant material, usually within 4 m (12 feet) of the ground. Two eggs are laid between October and February.

Vocalisation

Song is distinctive; loud and melodious. Generally only heard in breeding season.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Bush Blackcap. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bush_Blackcap

External Links

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