Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Regulus regulus
Population size
98-165 Mlnlnn
Life Span
8 months-2 years
Weight
4.5-7
0.2-0.2
goz
g oz 
Length
8.5-9.5
3.3-3.7
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
13.5-15.5
5.3-6.1
cminch
cm inch 

The goldcrest (Regulus regulus ) is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden crest feathers, as well as being called the "king of the birds" in European folklore, gives rise to its English and scientific names. The scientific name, R. regulus, means king or knight. Several subspecies are recognised across the very large distribution range that includes much of the Palearctic and the islands of Macaronesia and Iceland. Birds from the north and east of its breeding range migrate to winter further south.

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This kinglet has greenish upper-parts, whitish under-parts, and has two white wingbars. It has a plain face contrasting black irises and a bright head crest, orange and yellow in the male and yellow in the female, which is displayed during breeding. It superficially resembles the common firecrest, which largely shares its European range, but the latter's bronze shoulders and strong face pattern are distinctive. The song is a repetition of high thin notes, slightly higher-pitched than those of its relative. Birds on the Canary Islands are now separated into two subspecies of the goldcrest, but were formerly considered to be a subspecies of the firecrest or a separate species, Regulus teneriffae.

The goldcrest breeds in coniferous woodland and gardens, building its compact, three-layered nest on a tree branch. Ten to twelve eggs are incubated by the female alone, and the chicks are fed by both parents; second broods are common. This kinglet is constantly on the move as it searches for insects to eat, and in winter it is often found with flocks of tits. It may be killed by birds of prey or carry parasites, but its large range and population mean that it is not considered to present any significant conservation concerns.

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Di

Diurnal

In

Insectivores

Ca

Carnivore

Ar

Arboreal

Al

Altricial

Zo

Zoochory

Gl

Gliding

Te

Terrestrial

Te

Territorial

Ov

Oviparous

Mo

Monogamy

So

Social

Fl

Flocking

Pa

Partial Migrant

G

starts with

Ti

Tiny Animals
(collection)

Appearance

The goldcrest is one of Europe’s smallest songbirds. Its English and scientific names come from its colorful golden crest feathers, and are also possibly the reason it is known in European folklore as "king of the birds". The tiny goldcrest is a dull grayish-green, on its head, there is a black and yellow stripe, with an orange center in adult males, and its belly is pale. Its thin beak is perfect for picking out insects from between pine needles.

Video

Distribution

Geography

Goldcrests breed in Britain and Ireland, across Europe, and southern Siberia, as well as parts of central Asia and Japan; northern populations head south for winter. They are partly migratory; birds in the north move to the south in winter, traveling sometimes about 1,000 km within a week. Breeding takes place in areas of conifer and mixed woodlands, and large gardens and parks that have conifers. Outside of the breeding season, they may live in deciduous trees and scrub.

Goldcrest habitat map

Climate zones

Goldcrest habitat map
Goldcrest
Attribution-ShareAlike License

Habits and Lifestyle

The goldcrest is a diurnal and hyperactive bird with very fast-whirring wings, hopping and jumping among twigs and branches in a jerky, fairly frenetic fashion, somewhat like a wren. When hidden amongst dense conifers, it may reveal its presence by its high-pitched 'zi-zi-zi' call, though this is beyond the hearing range of most humans. These birds forage into foliage and probe into bark crevices with their pointed bill, often hanging upside down or flittering to gather insects from the underside of leaves. They are often to be seen in small groups. In winter, goldcrests display erratic behavior, joining sedentary groups of birds of their species. They will fly long distances, although bad weather can put a stop to their migration. During harsh winters, they feed all day, roosting together at night within dense vegetation, very close together.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Goldcrests are mainly insectivores, they eat small insects and spiders that they find in trees. During winter, they eat seeds and insects from the ground. The young grow quickly, having a rich diet that includes small spiders and insect larvae.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
starts in late April or early May
INCUBATION PERIOD
16 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
17-22 days
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
9-12 eggs

Goldcrests are monogamous breeders. This means that both the male and the female have only one partner. Courtship displays begin in late April or early May. The sedentary male sings to establish his territory and attract females, displaying his bright orange crest to his mate. Higher conifers can contain several breeding pairs at different levels of the trees, so several territories can exist in the same tree. The nest is on the outer branches of the tree, is hammock-shaped, and built mainly by the male. 9 to 12 smooth pale eggs with several markings are laid, one per day. Incubation is for about 16 days, by the female, starting before all eggs have been laid. The female broods and cares for the chicks during the first seven days. The male feeds the female at the nest and both adults will feed the chicks, which fledge at around 17 to 22 days.

Population

Population threats

Goldcrests are common across most of their range. The only significant threat is a natural one: in severe winters many birds die if cold temperatures last too long, but the populations are able to recover within several years.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total goldcrest population size is estimated at 98-165 million mature individuals. The breeding population within Europe is estimated to be 20 million - 37,000,000 pairs, with 40,100,000-74,100,000 mature individuals. According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) resource, the wintering population size of the species in the UK is 3-5 million birds. Overall, currently, goldcrests are classified as Least Concern (LC), but their numbers today are decreasing.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • The little goldcrest is often overlooked; however, it is surprisingly fearless, sometimes approaching within 3 m of humans during winter.
  • Goldcrests are so tiny, dwarfed even by a sparrow.
  • Goldcrest breeding pairs are extremely active and build their nest within a few days or up to three weeks.
  • The nest is made of three distinct parts: the outer part is made with lichens and mosses, woven with spider webs, fixed firmly to the branches, the middle part is made of mosses, and the inner section is lined with feathers and hair. The nest is placed relatively high in a tree, up to 15 m.
  • A goldcrest pair may produce two broods, at least about 20 young per year.
  • Goldcrest parents prepare for the next clutch while still feeding the first. The female may lay the second brood while the first is still in the nest.
  • This species breeds when food is abundant and the hours of daylight are long enough.
  • In winter, goldcrests can’t survive during the day for over an hour without feeding.
  • A goldcrest is always on the move; in winter it must feed for at least 90% of each day just to stay alive.

References

1. Goldcrest Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldcrest
2. Goldcrest on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22734997/0
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/707374
4. Video creator - https://avibirds.com

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