Sweet little king

The common firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) also known as the firecrest, is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family.

This kinglet is greenish above and has whitish underparts. It has two white wingbars, a black eye stripe and a white supercilium. The head crest, orange in the male and yellow in the female, is displayed during breeding, and gives rise to the English and scientific names for the species.

The common firecrest breeds in broadleaved or coniferous woodland and gardens. It is constantly on the move and frequently hovers as it searches for insects and spiders to eat. In winter it is often found with flocks of tits.

It breeds in most of temperate Europe and northwestern Africa, and is partially migratory. Laying starts in western Europe at the end of April, second clutches, which are common, commence in June to July.

Despite some possible local declines, the species is not the subject of significant conservation concerns owing to its large European population and an expansion of its range over the last century.