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The Goldcrest, Regulus regulus, is Europe's smallest bird, with a length of 8.5–9.5 cm and a weight of 4.5–7.0 g. It is a passerine bird in the kinglet family, characterized by its vibrant golden crest feathers. The male's crest has an orange center surrounded by yellow, while the female's is entirely yellow. The upper-parts are greenish, under-parts whitish, and it has two white wingbars. The face is plain with striking black irises, and the bill is small and thin.
The Goldcrest can be identified by its bright crest and relatively plain face. Males have an orange tinge on the hindcrown. It is distinguishable from similar species like the Common Firecrest by lacking the strong face pattern and bronze shoulders of the latter. The flight is distinctive, consisting of whirring wing-beats with occasional sudden changes of direction.
This kinglet favors mature coniferous woodlands and gardens for breeding, often using spruce, larch, Scots pine, silver fir, and mountain pine. It can also be found in man-made landscapes with introduced conifers such as Douglas fir.
The Goldcrest has a vast distribution range across much of the Palearctic, including the islands of Macaronesia and Iceland. Northern and eastern populations migrate southward to winter.
