Regulus regulus
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5%
The goldcrest (Regulus regulus) is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden crest feathers, as well as being called the "king of the birds" in European folklore, gives rise to its English and scientific names. The scientific name, R. regulus, means 'petty king' or prince. Several subspecies are recognised across the very large distribution range that includes much of the Palearctic and the islands of Macaronesia and Iceland. Birds from the north and east of its breeding range migrate to winter further south.
This kinglet has greenish upper-parts, whitish under-parts, and has two white wingbars. It has a plain face contrasting black irises and a bright head crest, orange and yellow in the male and yellow in the female, which is displayed during breeding. It superficially resembles the common firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla), which largely shares its European range, but the latter's bronze shoulders and strong face pattern are distinctive. The song is a repetition of high thin notes, slightly higher-pitched than those of its relative. Birds on the Canary Islands are now separated into two subspecies of the goldcrest, but were formerly considered to be a subspecies of the firecrest or a separate species, Regulus teneriffae.
The goldcrest breeds in coniferous woodland and gardens, building its compact, three-layered nest on a tree branch. Ten to twelve eggs are incubated by the female alone, and the chicks are fed by both parents; second broods are common. This kinglet is constantly on the move as it searches for insects to eat, and in winter it is often found with flocks of tits. It may be killed by birds of prey or carry parasites, but its large range and population mean that it is not considered to present any significant conservation concerns. Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Dublin | 🇮🇪 Ireland | |
| 3 | Manchester | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 4 | Liverpool | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 5 | Novosibirsk | 🇷🇺 Russia | |
| 6 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 7 | Kharkiv | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | |
| 8 | Turin | 🇮🇹 Italy | |
| 9 | Seoul | 🇰🇷 South Korea | |
| 10 | Paris | 🇫🇷 France |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dublin Zoo | 🇮🇪 Ireland | |
| 2 | Alpenzoo Innsbruck | 🇦🇹 Austria | |
| 3 | LBV-Vogel- und Umweltstation Regenstauf Station für Greifvögel und Eulen | 🇩🇪 Germany |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Goldcrest sighting in Osaka on a given day, based on 21 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 143rd most-seen of the 180 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Goldcrest in Osaka on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 6 and 9 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Goldcrest sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
63rd of 63
Of the 63 cities where we can rate Goldcrest sightings, Osaka ranks 63rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Birmingham (United Kingdom, about 30%), Dublin (Ireland, about 30%) and Manchester (United Kingdom, about 30%).
Same order: Passeriformes
The closest relatives of the Goldcrest that you can see in Osaka (order Passeriformes, Perching Birds) are Eurasian Tree Sparrow (about 80%), Brown-eared Bulbul (about 70%) and Large-billed Crow (about 60%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Goldcrest is recorded against all the birds logged in Osaka (21 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
