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Goldcrest Regulus regulus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Sylviidae
BTO Codes:
GC , GOLDC
EURING No:
13140
Number in Britain:
773 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
regulus recorded in Britain (of 13 subsp. in the world)
.
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:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
773 thousand territories
in 2000
First Record:
1544
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 )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results:
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 - 21) N = 149
by the:
Female
Fledging:
17 - 18 days
17.15 ± 1.94 (13 - 21) 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
Adult Survival:
0.149
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
2
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
4yr10m
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...
Books and Monographs:
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See Also:
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