DSC0265 Goldcrest - a photo on Flickriver

DSC0265 Goldcrest

            Goldcrest - Regulus regulus

The goldcrest (Regulus regulus) is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden crest feathers gives rise to its English and scientific names, and possibly to it being called the king of the birds in European folklore. Several subspecies are recognised across the very large distribution range that includes much of Eurasia and the islands of Macaronesia. Birds from the north and east of its breeding range migrate to winter further south. 
The goldcrest is the smallest European bird, 8.5–9.5 cm (3.3–3.7 in) in length,[2] with a 13.5–15.5 cm (5.3–6.1 in) wingspan and a weight of 4.5–7.0 g (0.16–0.25 oz). 

Several small passerine species survive freezing winter nights by inducing a lower metabolic rate and hypothermia, of a maximum of 10 °C (18 °F) below normal body temperature, in order to reduce energy consumption overnight. However, in freezing conditions, it may be that for very small birds, including the tiny goldcrest, the energy economies of induced hypothermia may be insufficient to counterbalance the negative effects of hypothermia including the energy required to raise body temperature back to normal at dawn. Observations of five well-fed birds suggest that they maintain normal body temperatures during cold nights by metabolising fat laid down during the day, and that they actually use behavioural thermoregulation strategies, such as collective roosting in dense foliage or snow holes to survive winter nights. Two birds roosting together reduce their heat loss by a quarter, and three birds by a third. During an 18‑hour winter night, with temperatures as low as −25 °C (−13 °F) in the north of its range, goldcrests huddled together can each burn off fat equivalent to 20% of body weight to keep warm.

     Until the severe winter of 1916–17 the Goldcrest was abundant and widespread, nesting in all the wooded portions of our islands; in 1920 it could have little more than an obituary notice, for the nesting stock was practically wiped out.  ... and for some years, even as a winter visitor, the Goldcrest remained rare, absent from most of its nesting haunts. It is, however, now fully re-established.

Conversely, populations can expand rapidly after a series of mild winters. In lowland Britain, there was an increase of 48% following the 1970/71 winter, with many pairs spreading into deciduous woodlands where they would not normally breed.

In culture
Aristotle (384–322 BC) and Pliny (23–79 AD) both wrote about the legend of a contest among the birds to see who should be their king, the title to be awarded to the one that could fly highest. Initially, it looked as though the eagle would win easily, but as he began to tire, a small bird that had hidden under the eagle's tail feathers emerged to fly even higher and claimed the title. Following from this legend, in much European folklore the wren has been described as the king of the birds or as a flame bearer. However, these terms were also applied to the Regulus species, the fiery crowns of the goldcrest and firecrest making them more likely to be the original bearers of these titles, and, because of the legend's reference to the smallest of birds becoming king, the title was probably transferred to the equally tiny wren. The confusion was probably compounded by the similarity and consequent interchangeability of the Greek words for the wren (βασιλεύς basileus,  and the crests (βασιλισκος basiliskos,  In English, the association between the goldcrest and Eurasian wren may have been reinforced by the kinglet's old name of gold-crested wren.

This tiny woodland bird has had little other impact on literature, although it is the subject of Charles Tennyson Turner's short poem, The Gold-crested Wren first published in 1868. An old English name for the goldcrest is the woodcock pilot, since migrating birds preceded the arrival of Eurasian woodcocks by a couple of days. There are unfounded legends that the goldcrest would hitch a ride in the feathers of the larger bird, and similar stories claimed that owls provided the transport. Suffolk fishermen called this bird herring spink or tot o'er seas because migrating goldcrests often landed on the rigging of herring boats out in the North Sea

Taken on: March 19, 2019

Tags:

Goldcrest

Goldcrests

Animal

Animals

Birds.

Bird

Bird Photography

Countryside

Copse

Farmland

Forest

Forestry

Forests

Garden Birds

Glades

Heathland

Hedgerows

Heathlands

Heaths

Wildlife.

Wildbirds

Wetlands

Wildlife Photography

Woodlands

Woodland

Woods

Trees

Pine-Forest

Song Birds

Nature

Nature Photography

Nikon

Ornithology

Jeff Lack Photography « less

Sets appears in: • Goldcrest

Groups appears in: • Wildlife Photography • UK Nature more » • Flickr Nature • Unlimited Birds • *I Love Birds* • "Bird Brained" • ***The Wildlife Photography • A Guide To The Birds Of Europe • WelshFlickrCymru • TMI: your ART & NATURE **NO PEOPLE OR MAN-MADE OBJECTS** P1♥C1 • Wings Of The World • *Flickr Photo Award* • The Worlds Best Nature, Wildlife, And Macro Photography • Beautiful Birds • WOODLAND Trust • * Birds of Britain * • BBC Wales Nature & Landscapes • **Simply Superb (P 1- A 2)** • All birds all the time • Wales Online Photography Flickr Group • "World Nature & Wildlife Closeup" Post 1/C3 • Wildlife UK • Avian Photography • !*Flickr Award Group*! (GIVE 5 AWARDS) • Wales Birders • ***ANIMALS INTERNATIONAL*** New Title/Awards (NO PEOPLE) • the RSPB • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Wildlife of the British Isles • World of Birds • UK - Wildlife & Nature • Amazing Birds ***No Rules, No Banning, No Sweepers*** • AWESOME BIRDS ONLY ! (Award 2 Please) • ***Naturally Wonderful***[100% NATURE]NO PEOPLE/BUILDINGS/BOATS • 4 Birds only • Uk birdwatchers • :: | Bird Photography |:: • [][][]Nature.. Light and Color[][][] • Wild Bird Photography • Welsh Wildlife Group • Best Bird Photographers • BBC Wildlife aspirations • Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) • *Feathers & Beaks* P1 - A3 • Audubon magazine • arbor square ~ A Nature Group ~ P1/C2 • Avian Wonders • World of Wildlife • UK wild life watching • "Watch The Birdie" P2 C2***Only birds*** NO OTHER IMAGES • AVES DEL MUNDO -- BIRDS OF THE WORLD -- OISEAUX DU MONDE • Our Wonderful and Fragile World - P1 - A4 • Wildlife and Landscape Photography • **FLORA & FAUNA INTERNATIONAL** 100%Nature~NO People/Buildings • "ATTIMI DI NATURA - MOMENTS OF NATURE" • Treasures of the World • * Wonderful World of Wildlife * • Wildlife Sightings UK • Best Birds Worldwide • The Wonderful Wildlife UK • This is Nature • "Birds Flock Together" (one bird a day ♥ only birds) • Amateur Photographer Magazine • The World of Birds • Aardvark To Zyzzyva • (W.A.S.P) Wildlife Appreciation Society of Photography • Goldcrests and Firecrests • *Birds Photography* • Worldwide Birds (opted out 30/60). • WildPlanet • All Birds UK « less

Stats: 6,256 views / 96 comments