Blackcap singing like a Nightingale (2 Viewers)

[jurek]

A week ago I heard what I thought to be the first Nightingale for the season. It turned to be a Blackcap singing a song similar to the Nightingale, but not exactly so. It them started signing the typical Blackcap song. It is at least the second time i heard this.

How common it is? Why Blackcap do this? Many birds imitate others, but Blackcaps usually don't.

I noticed earlier, than when I try taping other birds, often a Blackcap comes and listens carefully. I had a weird idea that Blackcaps, being common and rather unspecialized insect-eaters, watch other species in their territory and also sing to deter them, because their food niches overlap. Is it likely?

 

[Sangahyando]

The Blackcap is probably one of the most accomplished imitators in the WP. It might not imitate as religiously as some other species do, but it's not terribly uncommon in my experience. For instance, I'm pretty sure I've heard one imitate a Nightingale before, and also heard a very decent rendition of a Common Redstart song from another individual.
That said, I don't know if your theory is correct or not. It's an interesting thought to be sure.

 

[01101001]

6 - Which came first? - The Sound Approach

soundapproach.co.uk

EDIT: called the leiern song in the article, I believe
EDIT 2: My initial edit was wrong; let me put it down to my tiredness after a very long day spent in the sun

 

[Larry Sweetland]

The best one I've heard from a Blackcap is a perfect (to my ear) rendition of Willow Warbler song, repeated 3 times before it turned into a "normal" Blackcap

 

[jurek]

Birds which I know as perfect imitators - like Starling, Marsh Warbler or Bluethroat - normally sing their own song, but they substitute some phrase with perfect, audio-recording quality snippet of other species. So there is little confusion. For Blackcap, it is different - it repeats a longer imitated song but not perfectly, like it really tried but could not. And then switches to the typical Blackcap song.

 

[Xenospiza]

The Blackcap is probably one of the most accomplished imitators in the WP. It might not imitate as religiously as some other species do, but it's not terribly uncommon in my experience. For instance, I'm pretty sure I've heard one imitate a Nightingale before, and also heard a very decent rendition of a Common Redstart song from another individual.
That said, I don't know if your theory is correct or not. It's an interesting thought to be sure.

I can add an Icterine Warbler imitation to that.

 

[aeshna5]

Somebody on London Birders wiki site yesterday mentioned a Blackcap imitating a Nightingale.

 

[01101001]

6 - Which came first? - The Sound Approach

soundapproach.co.uk

EDIT: called the leiern song in the article, I believe

Recordings No. 5 (see the description) and 9 (at the very beginning) from the above contain Nightingale imitations.

EDIT: The whole article discusses different types of Blackcap songs, and tries to establish the function of some of their components.

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Plenty of examples of imitations/mimicry on xeno-canto https://xeno-canto.org/species/Sylvia-atricapilla including Great Tit, Willow, Sedge, Reed and Icterine Warblers, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Spotted Flycatcher, Thrush Nightingale, Nightingale, Pied Flycatcher and Common Redstart to name a few, my search was not complete.

This individual in Sweden XC727139 Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) imitates/mimics at least Thrush Nightingale, Icterine and Reed Warblers.

Grahame

 

[David_]

Last year there were a few reports (by multiple observers) of a Melodius Warbler at local nature reserve. The bird was heard calling but was never seen. After a week someone found out that it was a Blackcap imitating a Melodious Warbler. It managed to fool some very experienced birders.