| Sedentary species. The male and female are distinguished by their plumage. The male has predominantly grey hues with a black cap on the top of its head. In contrast, the female sports a red-brown cap with a browner body. Blackcaps are easier to hear than to see, with their strong, repetitive "teck" call and sweet, flute-like, mellow song, one of the most pleasurable and beautiful birdsongs to our ear. Highly associated with trees, it flits between branches and creepers, and so is common in the city's parks and gardens. It builds its nest in creepers, bushes and small trees of more than two metres in height. It feeds on insects during the spring and summer, and complements this diet with berries during the winter. |
