Common Firecrest

The Common Firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla, is a diminutive passerine, a member of the kinglet family. It is characterized by its vibrant olive-green upperparts, with a distinctive bronze patch on each shoulder, and its underparts are a soft whitish hue, tinged with brownish-grey on the breast and flanks. The head is adorned with a striking pattern: a black eye stripe, a long white supercilium, and a crest that is a brilliant yellow in females and a vivid orange in males.

Identification Tips

Adult firecrests are unmistakable with their bold head pattern and bronze shoulders. The male's orange crest and the female's yellow crest are particularly prominent during the breeding season. Juveniles can be identified by their grey-tinged upperparts and less vibrant head markings. The firecrest's flight is characterized as weak and whirring, with occasional quick, evasive turns.

Habitat

The Common Firecrest favors broadleaved or coniferous woodland and gardens for breeding. It shows a preference for cork oak and alder in lowland broadleaf forests, but also inhabits mixed woodlands and various coniferous trees, often with undergrowth of juniper, ivy, and wild rose.

Distribution

This species is found across most of temperate Europe and northwestern Africa. It is partially migratory, with central European birds wintering to the south and west of their breeding range. The Balearic Islands and north Africa host the subspecies R. i. balearicus, while the Madeira firecrest, previously considered a subspecies, is now recognized as a distinct species.

Behaviour

The Common Firecrest is a restless bird, constantly on the move as it forages. It often hovers while searching for insects and is known to join flocks of tits in winter. The species is monogamous, with males displaying their crests and engaging in a unique display during the breeding season.

Song & Calls

The firecrest's call is a series of thin, high notes, slightly lower-pitched than those of its relative, the goldcrest. Its song consists of a repetition of these call notes in a longer and slightly more varied sequence, typically lasting 0.5–2.5 seconds.

Breeding

The Common Firecrest breeds in a compact, three-layered nest on a tree branch. The female incubates a clutch of 7–12 eggs, and both parents feed the chicks. The young fledge 22–24 days after hatching.

Similar Species

The firecrest can be distinguished from similar species like Pallas's warbler by its brighter crest and face pattern. Juvenile firecrests might be confused with goldcrests but usually show enough facial pattern to be differentiated.

Diet and Feeding

Firecrests feed on small arthropods such as springtails, aphids, and spiders. They exhibit a preference for larger prey compared to goldcrests and often forage while hovering. Parents feed young chicks with smaller prey initially, gradually introducing larger items as the chicks grow.

Conservation status

The Common Firecrest is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It has a large population, estimated at 10–15 million individuals, and its range has expanded over the last century. There are no significant conservation concerns for this species at present.