Regulus ignicapilla
The Firecrest is a tiny, vibrant bird with a distinctive orange-gold crest bordered by black stripes. Its upperparts are olive-green, while the underparts are pale grey to white. A prominent white supercilium contrasts with a black eye stripe.
Males have a brighter orange crest compared to the yellow crest of females. Juveniles resemble adults but have duller plumage and lack the colourful crest until their first autumn.
They are named for the bright yellow and orange crown feathers that they can raise at will.
These birds are most easily confused with the much commoner Goldcrest. While similar in size, the Goldcrest has a more compact appearance and lacks the contrasting facial stripes of the adult Firecrest.
Length
9cm to 10cm
Wingspan
13cm to 16cm
Weight
4g to 7g
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Firecrests inhabit coniferous and mixed woodlands across Europe, from the UK to western Russia. They prefer areas with dense canopy cover, particularly favouring spruce and fir forests.
Some populations move to lower elevations or more southerly regions in winter. In the UK, they are year-round residents in southern England, with numbers increasing in winter due to continental migrants.
Up to 1,600 meters
Temperate, Mediterranean
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Firecrest. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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