The
Goldcrest Family
(Regulidae)
Order: Passerines (Passeriformes)
Perching
birds
In Britain, members of this family include the Goldcrest and the Firecrest, so named because of the bright yellow or orange colour on the top of their heads.
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Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
These tiny birds are green olive coloured. On their heads is a stripe of golden yellow (females) or orange (males), hence the name "Goldcrest". This bright colour is lined on either side with black.
Habitat
Goldcrests like conifer forests.
Goldcrests like to eat insects and spiders.
Goldcrests breed from May to June and produce two broods a year.
The nest is a deep basket-like home, cleverly woven together from moss, lichens and feathers. It is hung from the branches of trees.
The tiny eggs are dull white with pale grey speckles. They are not much bigger than a pea!
Goldcrests can be found throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
They can be found during all months of the year, but some fly away for the winter.
When a Goldcrest calls, it makes a quiet "zeezeeezeee", and its full song is a series of high, rising and falling notes.
It must be carefully listened for, or it will not be heard.
9 cm.
The Goldcrest is the smallest bird in Europe, but despite its tiny size, it bravely flies over the sea during its migration, and can survive the severest weather.
Firecrests
Regulus ignicapillus
Firecrests are quite like Goldcrests, but are more brightly coloured.
As well as the yellow or orange crest, they also have a white stripe above and thin black strip through the eye. They also have yellow or orange dabs of colour on their shoulders.
Like the Goldcrest, the Firecrest likes to nest in conifer forests.
Like the Goldcrest, the Firecrest likes to eat insects and spiders
It produces two lots of eggs a year, between May and July.
The Firecrest is not usually seen in Britain, but some visit during the summer.
The call is like that of the Goldcrest but it does not change tone. It gets louder and louder and sounds like "zeezeezeezeezeeia".
9 cm.
Young Firecrests
do not have bright colour on their heads.