Firecrest

The Firecrest is an abundant resident breeding species seen in numerous locations. It can be seen almost anywhere on the island in woodland and park areas which contain pines. A good place is the car park at the Lluc Monastery where they can be seen in addition to Wrynecks.

Technical description

Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) also known as the common firecrest is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. It breeds in most of temperate Europe and northwestern Africa and is partially migratory, with birds from central Europe wintering to the south and west of their breeding range. The Firecrest is a small plump bird, 9 cm (3.5 in) in length with a wingspan of 13–16 cm (5.1–6.3 in) and weighs 4–7 grams (0.14–0.25 oz). It has bright olive-green upperparts with a bronze-coloured patch on each shoulder and whitish underparts washed with brownish-grey on the breast and flanks. It has two white wingbars, a tiny black pointed bill and brownish-black legs. The head pattern is striking, with a black eye stripe, long white supercilium and a crest which is bright yellow in the female and mainly orange in the male. The sexes are very similar, apart from the crest colour, although the female is a little duller in plumage and on average slightly smaller. Juveniles have a grey tinge to the duller upperparts and lack the coloured crown; the other head markings are present but duller than in the adult.