Goldcrest

The goldcrest (Regulus regulus) is a tiny passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden crest feathers gives rise to its popular name. The scientific name, R. regulus, means king or knight.

Goldcrest
Female R. r. regulus in Lancashire
Male song in Surrey
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Regulidae
Genus:	Regulus
Species:	R. regulus
Binomial name
Regulus regulus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Breeding summer visitor    Resident year-round    Winter visitor (ranges are approximate)
Synonyms
Motacilla regulus Linnaeus, 1758 Regulus cristatus

Subspecies R. r. himalayensis at Vinayak village in Uttarakhand, India

Bathing goldcrest at Utrecht in the Netherlands

There are several subspecies. The bird has a very large distribution range: much of the Palearctic and the islands of Macaronesia and Iceland. Birds from the north and east of its breeding range migrate to winter further south.

The goldcrest breeds in coniferous woodland and in gardens, It builds its compact, three-layered nest on a tree branch. Ten to twelve eggs are incubated by the female alone. The chicks are fed by both parents, and second broods are common.

This little bird is always on the move as it searches for insects to eat. In winter it is often found with flocks of tits. It may be killed by birds of prey or carry parasites, but its large range and population means it is doing quite well. It is not a conservation concern.