Photo: DrPhilippLehmann / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) — 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 Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) is a member of the Regulidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 5.5 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 regulus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Regulidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Goldcrest 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 Goldcrest is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) belongs to the Regulidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL widespread.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.3 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 13.2 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Goldcrest?
The Goldcrest is a very small bird that weighs around 5.5 g.
Where does the Goldcrest live?
The Goldcrest is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Goldcrest belong to?
The Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) belongs to the Regulidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Goldcrest eat?
The Goldcrest is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Goldcrest migrate?
The Goldcrest is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Goldcrest 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 Goldcrest make?
1 real field recording of the Goldcrest — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Goldcrest's range?
The Goldcrest has a mapped global range of about 13.2 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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