Blackcap - female

Sylvia atricapilla

The female Blackcap has a reddish brown cap. This page shows photos of the female; photos of the male Blackcap, with jet black cap, are on separate page -- see link below.

Although Blackcaps are present in UK all year round, they aren't resident but are migratory. The problem isn't the cold but the food supply. Birds that winter in the Mediterranean come to UK/north Europe in summer when insects are plentiful. Some birds that spend summer in Scandinavia/Eastern/Central Europe have begun (this millennium) to winter in UK where garden food supplies are plentiful instead of crossing the Alps to go south as previously.
This bird spent a winter in the back garden	Usually hiding in rose bushes from the resident Robin	She would chase away Blue Tits but be chased off by the Robin
Usually she would choose brambles to hide but roses are similar	In spring she disappeared, as did a male visitor the next winter	The peanut cake was their food of choice

 Links:

Male Blackcap

Blackcap fledgling

Dad feeding fledgling

Confrontation with Great Tit

Blackcap with other birds