The blackcap babbler is a common resident breeding bird in west Africa from Senegal to Cameroon.

This species, like most babblers, is not migratory, and has short rounded wings and a weak flight.

It builds its cup-shaped nest in a tree, concealed in dense masses of foliage.

The blackcap babbler lives in flocks of four to twelve or more, which help to raise the young communally.

It is a noisy bird, and the presence of a flock may generally be known at some distance by the continual chattering, squeaking and chirping produced by its members.