Sylvia atricapilla

Blackcap

Main author: Magnus Hellström, September 2019.

Supplemented by: Aron Edman and Gabriel Norevik, September 2019.

Citation: Ottenby Bird Observatory. 2015. Ringers’ DigiGuide – Sylvia atricapilla. www.ringersdigiguide.ottenby.se

MOULT

                     Adult         Young

Summer       SC              sp

Winter          wp*             wp*

Young sp: The post-juvenile moult includes most of the body, LC, MC, most GC (at Ottenby 83% included 6-9 GC, and 11% included all 10 GC), and occasionally also AL, CC, single RR and one or more TT. Hence, the extent of the post-juvenile moult in Scandinavian birds seem slightly more restricted than presented by Jenni & Winkler (1994) and Shirihai et al. (2001).
Young wp: Variable; absent or very restricted in some populations (including most birds passing through Ottenby), while others – probably long-distance migrants – may include most of body, 0-4 inner GC, 0-3 TT and single RR. 
Adult SC: The post-breeding moult includes the complete plumage. Rare examples of arrested/suspended moult are known.
Adult wp: Variable; absent or very restricted in some populations (including most birds passing through Ottenby), while others – probably long-distance migrants – may include most of the body, 0-4 inner GC, 0-3 TT and single RR.

Number of GC included in the post-juvenile moult shown as a percentage of 1cy birds at Ottenby 2000-2018 (n=918).

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