Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla Scientific name definitions

9 cm; 5–7 g. Tiny olive-green passerine with striking head pattern. Male nominate race has central crown feathers  deep orange-red at front , merging into bright yellow at rear, bordered by broad black lateral stripes which meet at upper forehead, with pale orange patch on lower forehead; intensely dark eyestripe reaching to bill, sharply contrasting bright white supercilium and white lower eye-crescent; cheek grey, short black moustachial stripe; upperparts bright olive-green, shining yellow-bronze patch on lower neck side, two whitish wingbars; flight-feathers variably edged yellow-green to bronzy, secondaries black at bases, tertials edged and tipped whitish; pale below, throat creamy peach-brown, belly greyish-white; iris black; bill thin and needle-like, black; legs brown. Easily distinguishable from R. regulus by head pattern, bronze colour on neck side, narrower black basal patches on secondaries (thus black rear wingbar less apparent). Female has little or no orange in crown feathers . Juvenile  has duller plumage lacking distinctive crown pattern and bronze patch on neck; black eyestripe and white supercilium not fully developed, but still enable distinction from juvenile R. regulus. Races differ minimally: <em>balearicus</em> is more greyish than nominate; tauricus duller and darker than nominate, with longer wings, tail and bill; caucasicus brighter than other races, with purer golden-green neck side, and whitish underparts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Prefers coniferous forest with spruce (Picea) and fir (Abies); unlike R. regulus, fairly common also in mixed forest, as well as in deciduous stands with only a few mature conifers interspersed. In Mediterranean region and N Africa , common in cork oak (Quercus suber) and holly oak (Quercus ilex) stands, and in Morocco inhabits Atlantic cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forest. Lowlands generally to c. 1000 m; above 1600 m in N Africa (Middle Atlas).

Primarily migratory. Earliest migration activities 7–8 days after end of moult; leaves C European breeding areas by end of July, thus earlier than R. regulus, with peak movement in Aug/Sept. In non-breeding season occurs throughout W & S Europe; occupies large parts of Iberian Peninsula and SE Europe, and regular in Rhône Valley N to L Geneva, and at Belgian and Dutch coast (but in lower numbers than R. regulus), as well as in low mountain regions of Switzerland; regular visitor to S Britain. Resident on Balearic Is and in N Africa (race balearicus).

Arthropods, including moths and caterpillars (Lepidoptera), aphids (Aphidoidea) and spiders (Araneae), among others; strong preference for larger prey compared with those taken by R.regulus. Largest items usually beaten repeatedly against a branch. Prefers to forage on upperside of branches and leaves, tending to avoid dense foliage. Frequently hovers for lengthy periods at outer tips of branches, picking prey from substrate or in flight. Sometimes hovers at spider webs, from which picks trapped insects or even snatches the large spiders themselves; rarely, becomes entangled in web and may die. Outside breeding season often in small, loose groups, occasionally with mixed-species flocks.

Territorial song a series of whistled notes ascending in frequency, delivered in notable crescendo, “ si si si see see see seeeh seeeh”; individual repertoire comprises up to five different song types, given in different behavioural contexts and during different periods of breeding season; only slight geographical variation in element repertoire throughout range. Calls a quiet “seeh ” or “sreeh”.

Season from beginning of Apr to Aug; two broods per season. Nest a typical regulid cup of three layers, made of moss, lichen, feathers and spider web, inner cushion layer with fewer and larger feathers (maximum c. 700) and outer covering of lichens less developed compared with nests of R. regulus; suspended 9–18 m above ground in vertical twigs of conifer or, if no conifer present, in climbing plant such as ivy (Hedera helix) or vine, or in deciduous tree, especially oak. Clutch 6–13 eggs, slightly fewer in second clutches; incubation by female alone, fed on nest by male, which offers her large and brightly coloured food items (preferably thomisid crab spiders), incubation period 14–15 days (average 14·8–15·2 days in captivity); nestling period 20–22 days (19–24 days recorded in captivity); fledglings fed by parents for 12–14 days after having left nest, independent from c. 34th or 35th day.

Not globally threatened. Locally common. Estimates of European population variously 3,200,000–4,600,000 breeding pairs and between 6,000,000 and 13,000,000 individuals. During 20th century, range expanded NW to new breeding grounds, especially in Britain, but also locally in Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark; first breeding record in Britain in 1962, in Hampshire, since when species has been found N to Midlands and Wales, and current population 100–200 pairs.