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[[Image:Firecrest 01sopete.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|sopete|sopete}}<br />New Forest [[UK]], May2010]] | [[Image:Firecrest 01sopete.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|sopete|sopete}}<br />New Forest [[UK]], May2010]] | ||
;[[:Category:Regulus|Regulus]] ignicapilla | ;[[:Category:Regulus|Regulus]] ignicapilla | ||
'''Includes: Madeira Firecrest''' | '''Includes: Madeira Firecrest''' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | + | Length 9 cm, weight 5-7 g<br /> | |
| − | + | *Red (male) or orange-red (female) crown with black borders | |
| − | *Red crown with black borders | ||
*Gold forehead | *Gold forehead | ||
*White [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] | *White [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] | ||
*Black eye-stripe | *Black eye-stripe | ||
*Bronzy patch on shoulder | *Bronzy patch on shoulder | ||
| + | *Bright olive-gree back | ||
| + | *Whitish underparts | ||
[[Image:Firecrest mallorca.jpg|thumb|350px|right|ssp. ''balearica''<br>Photo by {{user|IanF|IanF}}<br/>Costa de los Pinos, [[Mallorca]] [[Spain]], September 2006]] | [[Image:Firecrest mallorca.jpg|thumb|350px|right|ssp. ''balearica''<br>Photo by {{user|IanF|IanF}}<br/>Costa de los Pinos, [[Mallorca]] [[Spain]], September 2006]] | ||
| − | + | Juvenile similar to adults but without the red crown or black crown border. | |
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| − | [[Goldcrest]] lacks the black and white head pattern. | + | [[Goldcrest]] lacks the black and white head pattern, and is duller green above, less white below. |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Patchy and discontinuous range in [[Europe]] breeding from [[Brittany]], east across [[Europe]], | + | Patchy and discontinuous range in [[Europe]] breeding from [[Brittany]], east across [[Europe]], north to southern [[England]] and southern [[Denmark]], to about 30 degrees east in [[Ukraine]]. |
| − | In the south breeds in the northern half of Iberia and | + | In the south breeds in the northern half of Iberia and south of [[Spain]], central and southern [[France]], [[Italy]] and parts of the Balkans and [[Greece]], and locally around the [[Black Sea]] in parts of northern [[Turkey]] and the Caucasus. |
| − | Also breeds on Madeira, [[Mallorca]], [[Corsica]], [[Sardinia]], [[Sicily]] | + | Also breeds on Madeira, [[Mallorca]], [[Corsica]], [[Sardinia]], [[Sicily]], Crete, and locally in northwest [[Africa]]. |
| − | Very small numbers breed in Britain, mainly in southern [[England]] and the [[New Forest]] in particular. | + | Very small numbers breed in Britain, mainly in southern [[England]] and the [[New Forest]] in particular; elsewhere in Britain a scarce passage migrant, particularly on the east coast. |
Northern and eastern populations are migratory wintering in western [[Europe]] and around the Mediterranean, birds from remainder of range are largely resident. | Northern and eastern populations are migratory wintering in western [[Europe]] and around the Mediterranean, birds from remainder of range are largely resident. | ||
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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
===Subspecies=== | ===Subspecies=== | ||
| − | There are | + | There are three to five subspeces<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>: |
| − | |||
| − | |||
*''R. i. ignicapilla'': | *''R. i. ignicapilla'': | ||
:*[[England]] and western [[Europe]] to Mediterranean and [[Asia Minor]] | :*[[England]] and western [[Europe]] to Mediterranean and [[Asia Minor]] | ||
| + | *''R. i. caucasicus'': brighter, with golden neck patch (not considered distinct by some authorities<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>) | ||
| + | :*Western Caucasus | ||
| + | *''R. i. tauricus'': duller and darker (not considered distinct by some authorities<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>) | ||
| + | :*Crimea | ||
*''R. i. balearica'': has greyer plumage | *''R. i. balearica'': has greyer plumage | ||
:*[[Balearic Islands]] and North [[Africa]] ([[Morocco]] to northern [[Tunisia]]) | :*[[Balearic Islands]] and North [[Africa]] ([[Morocco]] to northern [[Tunisia]]) | ||
| + | *''R. i. madeirensis'': is longer-billed with duller crown stripe and shorter [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] | ||
| + | :*[[Madeira]] (eastern Atlantic Ocean). Treated as a separate species '''Madeira Firecrest''' ''Regulus madeirensis'' by several authorities<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Breeds in deciduous, mixed and coniferous forest, also evergreen oak and tree-heath around the Mediterranean. Generally lower to the ground that Goldcrest, often in scrub, thickets and swampy areas. | Breeds in deciduous, mixed and coniferous forest, also evergreen oak and tree-heath around the Mediterranean. Generally lower to the ground that Goldcrest, often in scrub, thickets and swampy areas. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | + | Similar to [[Goldcrest]], but tends to be a little more mobile, moving faster through shrubs and trees when feeding. | |
| + | ====Flight==== | ||
| + | Undulating flight. Often hovers when feeding in the tree canopy. | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | The diet consists mainly of small insects and spiders. | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | The nest is suspended under a conifer or other evergreen branch. | ||
| + | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
| + | Slightly lower pitched than Goldcrest, with a sharper, more incisive sound to some ears. Song lacks the high, pulsating quality that Goldcrest has. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9 | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V4.3}}#{{Ref-HBWVol11}}#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9 |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 21:36, 20 November 2014
- Regulus ignicapilla
Includes: Madeira Firecrest
Identification
Length 9 cm, weight 5-7 g
- Red (male) or orange-red (female) crown with black borders
- Gold forehead
- White supercilium
- Black eye-stripe
- Bronzy patch on shoulder
- Bright olive-gree back
- Whitish underparts
Juvenile similar to adults but without the red crown or black crown border.
Similar Species
Goldcrest lacks the black and white head pattern, and is duller green above, less white below.
Distribution
Patchy and discontinuous range in Europe breeding from Brittany, east across Europe, north to southern England and southern Denmark, to about 30 degrees east in Ukraine.
In the south breeds in the northern half of Iberia and south of Spain, central and southern France, Italy and parts of the Balkans and Greece, and locally around the Black Sea in parts of northern Turkey and the Caucasus.
Also breeds on Madeira, Mallorca, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete, and locally in northwest Africa.
Very small numbers breed in Britain, mainly in southern England and the New Forest in particular; elsewhere in Britain a scarce passage migrant, particularly on the east coast.
Northern and eastern populations are migratory wintering in western Europe and around the Mediterranean, birds from remainder of range are largely resident.
Recorded as a vagrant in Finland.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are three to five subspeces[1][2][3]:
- R. i. ignicapilla:
- England and western Europe to Mediterranean and Asia Minor
- R. i. caucasicus: brighter, with golden neck patch (not considered distinct by some authorities[1])
- Western Caucasus
- R. i. tauricus: duller and darker (not considered distinct by some authorities[1])
- Crimea
- R. i. balearica: has greyer plumage
- Balearic Islands and North Africa (Morocco to northern Tunisia)
- R. i. madeirensis: is longer-billed with duller crown stripe and shorter supercilium
Habitat
Breeds in deciduous, mixed and coniferous forest, also evergreen oak and tree-heath around the Mediterranean. Generally lower to the ground that Goldcrest, often in scrub, thickets and swampy areas.
Behaviour
Similar to Goldcrest, but tends to be a little more mobile, moving faster through shrubs and trees when feeding.
Flight
Undulating flight. Often hovers when feeding in the tree canopy.
Diet
The diet consists mainly of small insects and spiders.
Breeding
The nest is suspended under a conifer or other evergreen branch.
Vocalisation
Slightly lower pitched than Goldcrest, with a sharper, more incisive sound to some ears. Song lacks the high, pulsating quality that Goldcrest has.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird Names (version 4.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2006. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553064
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Common Firecrest. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Common_Firecrest
External Links
