Is it a Blackcap?

I now live in a first floor flat, Q and the occupant downstairs feeds the birds. I am wondering if this bird I photographed on their feeder a juvenile Blackcap or female Blackcap?

Ieuan Williams

Yes, you are right in your A identification, this is a female-type Blackcap, as recognised by its reddish-brown cap. Blackcaps have been increasing as wintering birds in the UK, and gardens and particularly fat-based feeders are often chosen as good sources of food for these winterers. Ringing recoveries have suggested that rather than being breeding birds hanging on through the winter, our wintering Blackcaps may be largely from central European populations (eg from Germany).

In these modern times, it is relatively easy to see Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Dartford Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler throughout the winter. And with a bit more effort, it may be possible to supplement that list of warblers with perhaps a wintering Yellow-browed Warbler, Eastern Lesser Whitethroat or Siberian Chiffchaff. flight). Would it be a bird that didn’t migrate and survived the winter or a very early arrival? Simon Bloom

A

During January about half a dozen Swallows were seen in the UK (all in southern England). And at the start of the month there was a House Martin in East Sussex and even a Swift in Pembrokeshire. The exceptionally mild weather this winter has meant that there are enough flying insects already on the wing to feed these specialists in feeding on flying insects. Times are a-changing, and global climate change is starting to be notable on a personal level. So, perhaps, such occurrences, though still quite rare, will become more regular in the future. Furthermore, your bird almost certainly had migrated and was a very early arrival.