smallest bird in britain (1 Viewer)

W

wullie

Member

• Oct 30, 2002

• #1

Does anyone know what the smallest bird in britian is i thought it was the Goldcrest .

but someone i know thought it was the fire crest can any one clear this up for me

thanksB

 

Colin

Axeman (Retired)

• Oct 30, 2002

• #2

Hi Wullie,
I reckon you and your friend are about right. There in nothing between them in size. They are of the same genus, (Regulus). Firecrests are a little bit more rare that Goldcrests but in size, it must be a dead heat.


Colin

 

Andy Bright

Administrator

Staff member

• Oct 30, 2002

• #3

The Firecrest is officially the smallest bird in Europe. Both are so active and tiny that you certainly wouldn't notice any difference in size with the naked-eye.
Andy B

 

W

WelshFalcon

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2002

• #4

The answer I have been told is that the goldcrest, firecrest and wren are all the same size, but the wren weighs twice as much as the other two.

Most non-birders say that the wren is the smallest UK bird.

I'm told that the goldcrest and firecrest are the same size and weight.

If this is so, how come I have never been able to find a firecrest!!!

I know it's not a definitive answer, but it's an excuse for me to send a mssage!!!

 

C

Chicaddd

Well-known member

• Jan 7, 2003

• #5

I am not familiar with *crests but do you not have any hummingbirds over there? They are the smallest here in NA because they can be only about 3" in size.

 

T0ny

Okillre Member

• Jan 7, 2003

• #6

We don't have any hummers over here, except captive in collections. We do have the Hummingbird Hawk Moth, which is occasionally reported as a bird.

Tony

 

David

Well-known member

• Jan 7, 2003

• #7

.... and the goldcrests are busy little bees foraging tirelessly up and down our fir trees in the garden. Sadly, due to deafness (hi tones all gone in the army) I can't hear them. But my wife alerts me - "Die Goldhaenchen sind wieder da.." (German - Gold Chicks) or "Tady Kralicky - na hora" (Czech - little bunnies!)

 

monkeyman

Aviate. Navigate. Communicate.

• Jan 7, 2003

• #8

Both Fire and Goldcrest are given in most books as being 3.5 inches (9cm). The Firecrest is the rarer of the two in the UK. Goldcrests can even be seen in gardens in Birmingham! We usually see them on our local walks here in Walsall and even had a pair that visited the garden a couple of months ago!

 

C

Chicaddd

Well-known member

• Jan 8, 2003

• #9

We have the Hawk Moth here too. Probably not the same one but we have one - or more for all that I know. I had discovered it when I had thought that I had seen my first hummingbird. I saw it after that and was able to find out that it was the moth and not the hummingbird. I had to wait to see the bird.

 

Y

Yve_M

Colonial Member

• Jan 9, 2003

• #10

Tony and Kevin
We get hummers way up here in N. Canada too. I also get the hummingbird moth (Hemaris thysbe) on my flowers. It is a moth that feeds during the day. They are very pretty and I love it when they show up. One can mistake them for hummers as they move so fast. I have seen bird books refer to the 'Sphinx moth' which I think is the same or the same family.
Eve

 

S

sunrise

New member

• Jan 12, 2003

• #11

i saw my first goldcrest yesterday... so tame we stood and watched whilst it foraged for insects!! about 2 to 3 foot away. seems to me it is the smallest bird in the uk. but i must say... a tad plump. tiny legs on a squat body. firecrests which i have seen often ...are thinner looking.

 

Andrew

wibble wibble

• Jan 12, 2003

• #12

Welcome to the forum Sunrise from another Devonian. You're lucky seeing more firecrests than Goldcrests! Where did you see so your Firecrests? Hope to hear from you often around the forum, check 'Hot off the Devonian Presses' plug plug!