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Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla   [Temminck, 1820]
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Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
BTO Codes: FC, FIREC EURING No: 13150
Number in Britain: 443 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: AMBER
European: Not a species of concern
Global: Least Concern ( Details )
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Status in UK: (A)  Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies: ignicapilla recorded in Britain (of 5 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 and L.: ignis=fire + capillus=capped
World Distribution: Europe, nw Africa & Near East
Habitat: Coniferous & mixed forest
Diet: Insects (esp aphids, springtails and caterpillars), spiders mostly on twigs in tree crown
TitBit: Now widespread as a breeding bird in much of southern England, the inhabitants of Wendover (Bucks) were so taken with these birds, which breed in the local forest, they renamed their pub as 'The Firecrest' (previously it had been 'The Office').  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: No population trend available
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Local Atlases)   
British Population Size:
    Summer: 443 pairs in 2005-09
    First Record: 1832
    First Breeding Record: Hampshire 1962
    Latest Survey: Holling, M. & RBBP (2011) British Birds 104:476-537
    Conservation Status: AMBER because Small Breeding Population,
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 AMBER     1996-2001 AMBER  
   Races of Concern: ignicapilla AMBER (Rare or Localised)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 3.3 to 6.7 million pairs   (Trend in Numbers)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(I,IV), Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results: BirdTrack

Breeding and Survival
Egg Size: 14 x 10 mm Egg Weight: 0.7 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 0
Clutch Size: 7 - 10 eggs
Incubation: 15- 17 days   by the: Female
Fledging: 19 - 20days as: Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid: Unavailable
Number of Broods: 2
Number Ringed: 281 (Annual Totals)
Adult Survival: No data
Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: No data
Maximum Recorded Age: 3 years 2 months 13 days (set in 2009)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries       

Biometrics
Ring Size: AA
Wing Length Adult: 53.1 ± 1.8 Range 50 - 56 mm, N =515
Juvenile: 53.2 ± 1.8 50 - 56 mm, N =1286
Male: 54.3 ± 1.4 52 - 57 mm, N =268
Female: 51.7 ± 1.2 50 - 54 mm, N =243
Weight Adult: 5.39 ± 0.49 Range 4.70 - 6.40 g , N =485
Juvenile: 5.29 ± 0.47 4.60 - 6.10 g , N =1159
Male: 5.53 ± 0.48 4.80 - 6.50 g , N =253
Female: 5.24 ± 0.46 4.60 - 6.00 g , N =228
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names
 
Gaelic: Welsh: Dryw Penfflamgoch
Danish: Rødtoppet fuglekonge Dutch: Vuurgoudhaantje
Finnish: Tulipäähippiäinen French: Riotelet triple-bandeau
German: Sommergoldhähnchen Hungarian: Tüzesfeju királyka
Icelandic: Gullkollur Irish: Lasairchíor
Italian: Fiorrancino Norwegian: Rødtoppfuglekonge
Polish: Zniczek Portuguese: Estrelinha-de-cabeça-listada
Spanish: Reyezuelo listado Swedish: Brandkronad 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