Goldcrest - Regulus regulus

Description

The Goldcrest is Europe's smallest bird, weighing just 5 grams. It is dull green above and buff white below with a distinctive head crown. The crown has black sides and and a bright central crest, orange in the male and yellow in the female, which is displayed during breeding.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

It is a widespread species, closely associated with coniferous forest. Also found in broadleaved woodland and parks but usually where there are coniferous trees nearby.

When to see it

All year round.

Life History

Despite being the smallest warbler, it stays in the UK through the winter, searching out tiny insects and spiders amongst pine cones and the needle leaves of conifers. In winter it will join with flocks of tits and other woodland species. Nesting commences in late April and the nest is an intricate hammock-like structure.

UK Status

In the UK it occurs widely save for in treeless areas such as in the Fens and in northern Scotland.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland, though most records are from the western half of the region

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Goldcrest, Continental Goldcrest
Species group:
Birds
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Regulidae
Records on NatureSpot:
487
First record:
29/01/1994 (Ian Retson)
Last record:
18/03/2024 (Gaten, Ted)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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