Wildlifeof Nepal
Goldcrest
Thrushes, Chats & Flycatchers
Photo: (c) Frank Sengpiel, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Regulus regulus
Basic stats
Habitat
Coniferous woodland and gardens; compact three-layered nest on a tree branch
Clutch size
10–12 eggs; second broods are common
Size
8.5–9.5cm; wingspan 13.5–15.5cm
Weight
4.5–7.0g
The goldcrest is a very small passerine of the kinglet family, the smallest European bird, 8.5–9.5 cm long with a wingspan of 13.5–15.5 cm and weighing 4.5–7 g. It has greenish upperparts, whitish underparts and two white wingbars, with a plain face contrasting black irises and a bright head crest, orange and yellow in the male and yellow in the female, displayed in breeding. The scientific name means petty king or prince. Birds from the north and east of the breeding range migrate to winter further south (Wikipedia, general species account).
The female alone incubates the ten to twelve eggs and both parents feed the chicks. The song is a repetition of high thin notes (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Goldcrest live in?
- Coniferous woodland and gardens; compact three-layered nest on a tree branch
- How many eggs does the Goldcrest lay?
- 10–12 eggs; second broods are common
- How big is the Goldcrest?
- 8.5–9.5cm; wingspan 13.5–15.5cm
- How much does the Goldcrest weigh?
- 4.5–7.0g