Goldcrest: Song, Nest & More

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 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. Only the goldcrest (Regulus ignicapilla) which is very closely related to the goldcrest and is only a few millimeters larger on average. How to clearly tell the two species apart, distinguish female and male goldcrest and can even recognize the smallest songbird in Europe by its voice, you can find out here in our big one art portrait.

Goldcrest: Wanted

size	About 9cm
Weight	About 4 - 7 g
breeding season	March - July
lifespan	About 4 years
habitat	Coniferous forests, parks with conifers
food	Very small insects
threats	Harsh winters, food shortages, trapping (some countries), natural predators (cats, birds of prey)

How to recognize the goldcrest

Spotting 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. A goldcrest can always be recognized without a doubt by this feature.

How are goldcrests and firecrests different?

Once you have discovered a goldcrest, the question arises as to whether it is a firecrest or a winter goldcrest. This distinction can easily be made on the basis of a single characteristic: firecrests have a distinct, white eye stripe, which is absent in goldcrests.

How do goldcrest females and males differ?

Female and male goldcrests look very similar. The only distinguishing feature is the color of the crown stripe: while this in the females is fresh Brilliant lemon yellow, the crown of males is a bright orange, fading into yellow only on the forehead transforms.

Notice: Depending on the light, the color impression can be deceptive 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.

How does goldcrest song sound?

A deep, throaty bird call would probably be out of place with the little goldcrest. And indeed, the singing of the animals fits very well with their title as the smallest songbirds in Europe - they probably also have the highest voice. The chant consists of a rapid, 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 goldcrest juvenile?

Young goldcrests can be 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 than that of the adult goldcrest and colored 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.

Which 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 – primarily 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 harsh, leave their breeding grounds and continue to migrate south - Scandinavian goldcrests, for example, migrate towards Hamburg. Here the goldcrests are looking for warmth and food in their dense spruce branches during this time.

Support the goldcrest in the garden: Here's how

Goldcrests can also feel at home in gardens - as long as there are conifers with sufficient food supply. 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. Springtails, for example, which only grow a few millimeters in size, make up a large part of the food. The birds forage on branches and twigs of coniferous trees and can eat their own body weight on a daily basis. Young birds and females that lay eggs even need twice as much food.

Which nesting aids are suitable for goldcrests?

Goldcrests make very specific demands on 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 buildings are more suitable for blue tits, tree sparrows or Redstarts. However, if you have spruces or other conifers in your garden, be sure to include them not to thin out too much, because the little goldcrests need dense, bushy branches to build theirs nests.

How can you additionally support the goldcrest?

As outspoken insect eaters, goldcrests are heavily dependent on the supply of small creepy-crawlies. The increasing loss of insects is therefore making life difficult for the small birds. With the design of a 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 ours, for example Plantura beneficial insect magnet you can do this very easily. Our seed mixture attracts lots of little animals into the garden and makes the goldcrest happy too.
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.

Incidentally, many other bird species, such as the house sparrow or the wagtail.