Goldcrest
|
|
| Goldcrest | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Regulus regulus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The Goldcrest, Regulus regulus, is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family, resembling the Firecrest but with a plainer face. It breeds in most of temperate Europe and Asia but is partly migratory and northern birds winter south of the breeding range. It prefers coniferous woodlands, although it has a wider range in winter, when it is often found with tit flocks. It builds an open nest and lays 4-12 eggs.
The Goldcrest is the smallest of European birds, measuring from 8.5 to 9.5cm. It is greenish above, with whitish underparts, two white wingbars, a plain face, and a crest, orange in the male and yellow in the female, which is displayed during breeding. It is a restless species, constantly on the move as it searches for insects.
The Canary Islands form has a black band across the forehead, and yellower wingbars. It is often considered a separate species, the Canary Islands Kinglet, Regulus teneriffae.
de:Wintergoldhähnchen lt:Nykštukas nl:Goudhaantje no:Fuglekonge pl:Mysikrólik