Photo: Frank Vassen / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Firecrest
Regulus ignicapilla
Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) is a member of the Regulidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 5.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Regulidae Goldcrests, Kinglets
- Genus Regulus
- Species ignicapilla
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Regulidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Firecrest is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Common Firecrest is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) is a member of the Regulidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.6 g, with a wing length of about 5.2 cm and a tail of around 3.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Firecrest?
The Common Firecrest is a very small bird that weighs around 5.6 g.
Where does the Common Firecrest live?
The Common Firecrest is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Common Firecrest belong to?
The Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) belongs to the Regulidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Common Firecrest eat?
The Common Firecrest is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Common Firecrest migrate?
The Common Firecrest is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Common Firecrest endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Firecrest make?
1 real field recording of the Common Firecrest — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Firecrest's range?
The Common Firecrest has a mapped global range of about 2.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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