Blackcap

A distinctive and bulky warbler, the male boasts a plain grayish overall appearance with the eponymous black cap, while the female and juvenile exhibit a plainer, slightly browner look with rusty-brown caps. This species thrives in wooded and scrubby habitats, occasionally venturing into gardens and visiting feeders during winter. While a few stay in Western Europe during winter, most migrate south to Africa and the Mediterranean. Its song is a varied, loud warble, often strident, accompanied by a harsh "chakchak" call. Rare dark morphs featuring black-hooded males and brown-hooded females are primarily found on Atlantic Islands and scarcely elsewhere.