male	male female European distribution brief adult in canopy

Identification

They are as tiny as a Goldcrest but they have a dramatic black-edged white stripe over the eye giving the face more of a glowering expression. They also have gorgeous bronze-coloured patches on the shoulders.

Habitat

Breeds in coniferous woodlands. Winters in woodland, parkland and scrub.

Behaviour

When male Firecrests (and Goldcrests) display they spread their central crown feathers displaying the glorious red, orange and yellow colours of the crown stripe.

Migration

Resident in the south, migratory in the north and east. Those which winter in Britain almost certainly come from the Continent.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Firecrest is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

undisc. site, Norfolk 14/05/2010	Hackney, London 21/04/2010	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 11/04/2010	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 11/04/2010	Santon Downham, Suffolk 06/04/2010
Landguard NR, Suffolk 27/03/2010	Dungeness Obs, Kent 04/04/2010	Southill, Beds 03/04/2010	Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk 26/03/2010	Beachy Hd, E Sussex 01/04/2010

 View all pictures of Firecrest

Firecrest breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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	Searching for Jewels	Thursday 13th April 2006
	For many birders the stunning Firecrest will be amongst their favourite birds, whilst for those yet to see one it will be high on their 'most wanted' list. Find out more about this charismatic crest and where to find them this spring.

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