The Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) is the smallest bird in the UK at only 9cm in length. The Goldcrest bears a passing resemblance to a Yellow-Browned warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus), but the proportionally large, white-ringed dark eye and the thick colourful crown stripe allow for easy separation. Typically, it forages high in the tree canopy for invertebrates, sometimes hanging from twigs or hovering.The adult male has greenish upperparts with two pale wingbars, and yellow-buff underparts. The adult female is similar, but the crown colour is yellow compared to the males orange, black-bordered crown.
The Goldcrest is widespread throughout the UK and is a common woodland resident. It favours conifers, but the species can also be found in deciduous woodland and scrub, especially during the winter months. The Goldcrest has an extremely high-pitched tsee-tsee-tsee alarm call, and an equally high-pitched song, which comprises of a series of high-pitched phrases and ends in a flourish.
Reference List:
- Sterry.P., (2004) Collins Complete Guide to British Birds. Harper Collins Publishing Ltd, London.
