Is the goldcrest really the smallest songbird in Europe? How do you tell the difference between goldcrests and firecrests? Read our profile to find out about this and more.
The goldcrest (Regulus regulus) is actually the smallest songbird in Europe. It weighs less than a 1 euro coin and has an equally rounded body shape, which together with its size gives it a very "cute" appearance. The title of the smallest songbird could only be contested by the firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), which is very closely related to the goldcrest and is only a few millimeters larger on average. In our large species portrait, you can find out how to clearly tell the two species apart, how to distinguish between male and female goldcrests and how to recognize the smallest songbird in Europe by its voice.
Goldcrest: Profile
| Size | About 9 cm |
| Weight | About 4 - 7 g |
| Incubation | March - July |
| Lifetime | About 4 years |
| Habitat | Coniferous forests, parks with conifers |
| Food | Very small insects |
| Threats | Hard winters, food depletion, trapping (some countries), natural predators (cats, birds of prey) |
How to recognize the goldcrest
Recognizing a goldcrest is not difficult. Despite their small, rounded shape, the birds are very conspicuous. They have an olive green back, green, black, and white striped elytra, and greyish-white underparts. The most striking feature, however, is the bright yellow to orange stripe on the crown framed in black. You can always recognize a goldcrest without a doubt by this feature.
What is the difference between goldcrest and firecrest?
Once you have discovered a goldcrest, the question arises whether it isa firecrest or a goldcrest. This distinction can easily be made based on a single characteristic: firecrests have a distinct white brow stripe which is absent in goldcrests.
How do female and male goldcrests differ?
Female and male goldcrests look very similar. The only distinguishing feature is the color of the crown stripe: While this shines in the females in a fresh lemon yellow, the crown of the males is a bright orange, which only turns yellow on the forehead.
Note: Depending on the light, the color impression can be deceiving and the distinction between the two sexes does not work as well as one would expect. Of course, the best way to tell the difference is to see males and females side by side.
What does goldcrest singing sound like?
A deep, throaty bird call would probably be out of place with the little goldcrest. And indeed, the singing of the animals goes very well with their title as Europe's smallest songbirds - they probably also have the highest voice. The chant consists of a fast, repeated "pitelitü" that is so high-pitched and clear that the elderly are often unable to hear it.
The goldcrest song sounds like this:
How do you recognize a baby goldcrest?
Young goldcrests are easily identified by their tiny, spherical shape, olive green plumage and black and white patterned wings. However, the young birds differ from the adult animals by the absence of the conspicuous crest spot. In addition, the beak of the juveniles is lighter in color than that of the adult goldcrest and is slightly orange.
What do Goldcrest eggs look like?
Goldcrests have quite large clutches of up to 11 eggs. The eggs are white and dotted with yellowish-brown spots that cluster at the blunt end of the egg, making it appear darker at that point. In keeping with the little goldcrest, the eggs are only about 1.4 centimeters in size and weigh less than a gram.
What habitat does the goldcrest prefer?
Goldcrests love conifers. Here they are mainly associated with spruce stands and occur in pure coniferous and mixed forests. In the mountains, however, they also live, for example, in Swiss stone pine forests. Goldcrests can also be found in urban parks or large gardens - as long as there is an attractive group of tall, bushy spruce trees.
Where does the goldcrest build its nest?
The goldcrest builds its nest in the branches of coniferous trees - mainly spruces. A nest of moss and lichen is built in the hanging branches, tightly woven into the branches and fastened with webs from spider and caterpillar cocoons. The inside of the nest is padded with animal hair.
When is the nesting season of the goldcrest?
Goldcrests start breeding in late March or early April. This task falls solely to the female. It only leaves the eggs for short periods at a time in search of food, and spends the rest of the time incubating. After about 15 - 16 days, the young birds hatch and are then mainly supplied with food by the male. In the meantime, the female is already beginning a new clutch - even before the first young birds have even left the nest.
Where does the goldcrest spend the winter?
As the name suggests, goldcrests can also be found here in winter. Despite their small size, which is not designed to store much heat, the birds defy the cold season. Only populations from northern Europe, where the winters are particularly hard, leave their breeding grounds and migrate further south - Scandinavian goldcrests, for example, migrate towards Hamburg. During this time, the goldcrests look for warmth and food in their dense spruce branches.
Support the goldcrest in the garden: This is how it works
Goldcrests can also feel at home in gardens - as long as coniferous trees with sufficient food supply are available. You can find out here what demands these little birds have on a home and how you can accommodate them.
What do goldcrests eat?
Goldcrests only eat small arthropods such as insects or spiders. However, they hunt only the smallest representatives of these groups. A majority ofFood is made, for example, by springtails, which only grow a few millimeters in size. The birds forage on branches and twigs of coniferous trees and can eat their own body weight on a daily basis. Juveniles and females that lay eggs need twice as much food.
Which nesting aids are suitable for goldcrests?
Goldcrests have very specific requirements for their nesting sites. They breed exclusively in hanging branches of conifers. A classic nesting box is therefore of no help to the small songbirds. Such burrows are more suitable for blue tits, tree sparrows or redstarts. However, if you have spruce or other conifers in your yard, be careful not to thin them out too much, because the little goldcrests need dense, bushy branches to build their nests.
How can you support the goldcrest?
As outspoken insect eaters, goldcrests are heavily dependent on the supply of small crawling animals. The increasing loss of insects is therefore making life difficult for the small birds. By designing an insect-friendly garden, you can counteract this negative trend and support the goldcrest. Creating a flower meadow, for example, can create a habitat for numerous small garden dwellers. With our Plantura beneficial insect magnet, for example, you can easily do this. Our seed mixture attracts lots of small animals into the garden and thus also makes the goldcrest happy.
Like all garden birds, the goldcrest also benefits from a water supply: be it in the form of a small pond or a bird bath.
By the way, many other bird species like the house sparrow or the wagtail too.