Regulus regulus
Goldcrest
The Goldcrest is Europe's smallest bird, with olive-green upperparts and pale underparts. Its most striking feature is a bright yellow crown stripe bordered by black lines. Males have an orange centre in their yellow crest.
Females are slightly duller overall, with a purely yellow crest. Both sexes have a thin, dark bill and pale wing bars.
Juveniles are duller than adult birds with a white eye ring and lack the brightly coloured yellow crown.
Length
8.5cm to 9.5cm
Wingspan
13cm to 15cm
Weight
4.5g to 7g
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Goldcrests inhabit coniferous and mixed woodlands across Europe and Asia. They show a strong preference for spruce, fir, and pine forests. In the UK, they are widespread in suitable habitats, including parks and gardens with mature conifers.
During winter, some northern populations move southward or to lower elevations. In harsh weather, they may seek shelter in more diverse habitats, including deciduous woodlands and urban areas.
Up to 4,000 meters
Temperate, Subarctic
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Goldcrests primarily feed on small insects and spiders. They specialise in gleaning tiny prey from the outer branches of trees, particularly conifers.
Their small size allows them to access food sources unavailable to larger birds, and they often hover to pluck insects from needles and leaves.
Goldcrests are remarkably active, constantly flitting through foliage in search of food. They often hang upside down from branches, probing for insects.
These tiny birds are surprisingly social, often forming mixed-species flocks with tits and warblers outside the breeding season.
The Goldcrest's call is an extremely high-pitched, thin 'see-see-see', often beyond the hearing range of some people. Their song is a series of high, tinkling notes, ending in a flourish, sounding like 'si-si-si-si-si-sisisisisi-see-see-see'. These vocalisations are crucial for locating these tiny birds in dense foliage.
Breeding occurs from April to July, with pairs forming in early spring. Males court females with vibrant displays of their orange crown feathers. Goldcrests are monogamous during the breeding season.
Nests are intricately woven, deep cups made of moss, lichen, and spider webs, typically suspended high in conifer trees. Females lay 7-12 tiny cream-coloured eggs with fine reddish-brown speckles.
Incubation lasts about 16-17 days, performed solely by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 17-22 days. Pairs often raise two broods per season.
years
The Goldcrest typically lives for 2 to 3 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
While the Goldcrest is currently of Least Concern globally, it is vulnerable to harsh winters and habitat loss. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining diverse forest structures and protecting mature coniferous woodlands, which are crucial for their breeding success.
Golden-crested Kinglet
Main predators include small raptors like Sparrowhawks and Merlins, as well as domestic cats in urban areas. Squirrels and corvids may prey on eggs and nestlings.
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Stephen jones
website: BirdLife International. 2018. Regulus regulus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22734997A132183740.
View sourcereport, 2015: EBCC