Goldcrest Regulus regulus   [Linnaeus, 1758]

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Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
BTO Codes: GC, GOLDC EURING No: 13140
Number in Britain: 773 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: GREEN
European: Not a species of concern
Global: Least Concern ( Details )
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Status in UK: (A)  Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies: regulus recorded in Britain (of 13 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 9 cm Wingspan: 14 cm Weight: M/F: 6 g    
Scientific name from: L.: regulus=a prince or kinglet
World Distribution: Locally in Eurasia
Habitat: Coniferous & mixed forest
Diet: Insects (esp aphids, springtails and caterpillars), spiders mostly on twigs in tree crown
TitBit: Our smallest breeder, weighing in at around 5-6g, the Goldcrest nevertheless can lay up 12 eggs in a clutch (though 6-8 is more normal), representing one and half times her bodyweight.  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: Wider Countryside Report
Regional Trends: Scotland   Wales   England   English Regions
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Local Atlases)    BBS Maps
British Population Size:
    Summer: 773 thousand territories in 2000
    First Record: 1544
    Conservation Status: GREEN
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 AMBER     1996-2001 GREEN  
   Races of Concern: regulus GREEN
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    Most frequent in: Coniferous Wood
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
    Summer: 11 to 20 million pairs   (Trend in Numbers)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results: BirdTrack
Garden BirdWatch

Breeding and Survival

Egg Size: 14 x 10 mm Egg Weight: 0.8 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 13   (more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size: 6 - 8 eggs 6.81 ± 1.81 (2 - 12) N = 149
Incubation: 16- 19 days 16.84 ± 2.57 (12 - 20.5) N = 149   by the: Female
Fledging: 17 - 18days 17.15 ± 1.94 (13 - 20.5) N = 198 as: Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid: 2 May (14 Apr - 13 Jun)
Number of Broods: 2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed: 12778 (Annual Totals)
Adult Survival: 0.149 ± 0.126       
Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: 2 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 4 years 10 months 9 days (set in 1994)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries       

Biometrics

Ring Size: AA
Wing Length Adult: 52.8 ± 1.8 Range 50 - 56 mm, N =13850
Juvenile: 53.1 ± 1.7 50 - 56 mm, N =48767
Male: 53.9 ± 1.5 52 - 56 mm, N =7394
Female: 51.7 ± 1.4 50 - 54 mm, N =6381
Weight Adult: 5.33 ± 0.62 Range 4.70 - 6.10 g , N =12013
Juvenile: 5.36 ± 0.58 4.80 - 6.10 g , N =40984
Male: 5.40 ± 0.44 4.80 - 6.10 g , N =6379
Female: 5.25 ± 0.77 4.60 - 6.00 g , N =5570
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names

 
Gaelic: Crìonag-bhuidhe Welsh: Dryw Eurben
Danish: Fuglekonge Dutch: Goudhaantje
Finnish: Hippiäinen French: Roitelet huppé
German: Wintergoldhähnchen Hungarian: Sárgafeju királyka
Icelandic: Glókollur Irish: Cíorbhuí
Italian: Regolo Norwegian: Fuglekonge
Polish: Mysikrólik zwyczajny Portuguese: Estrelinha-de-poupa
Spanish: Reyezuelo sencillo Swedish: Kungsfågel

For More Information...

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Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead