Goldcrest vs Firecrest: How to Tell Them Apart

This is a tiny bird, the smallest found in the region. It has large eyes and is roundish overall, with rounded wings and a narrow, pointed bill. Males are dull greenish above with two whitish bars on the wings, and they are off-white underneath. There's an orangish patch on the crown, bordered with black. Female resembles the male, but the crown is yellower. Juveniles resemble adults but they lack the colourful crown marking and the plumage colour.

The Goldcrest is predominately found in coniferous woods during breeding season, but it may stray to parklands and gardens with older trees. Migrant birds may arrive on islands lacking tree-life, and here they may settle on the edges of cliffs and big rocks.

Has a shrill 'tsee-tsee-tsee' call. The song is heard most often after February; it consists of high-pitched phrases and a rolling 'tee-lee-de, tee-lee-de'.

The Firecrest is more vivid in colour than the Goldcrest. Males are a yellowish-green on top and whitish-buff underneath; the wings have light wingbars, there's a dark strip above the eye, a white section through the eye, and a bright orangish-red section on the crown. Female resembles the male, but the marking on her crown is more yellow. Female and males have a gold-brownish section on the side of the neck. Juvenile resembles the adult, but the markings are less distinct and it doesn't have the crown marking.

When in the region, the Firecrest prefers Norway spruce, though it may also inhabit mixed or deciduous woodlands. When migrating, may frequent wooded valleys in proximity to the coast.

The Firecrest has a 'tsuu-tsee-tsee' call that increases in pace and volume. The song is high-pitched with a trilling, flourishing conclusion.