Juan Arizaga

Very small warbler that feeds on arthropods, especially springtails, spiders, and aphids. Less closely associated with conifers than Goldcrest Regulus regulus, breeding also in mixed woodland and in broad-leaved woodland, especially oak; in parks, gardens, and small copses, as well as more extensive woodland. Populations are stable, not threatened. Breeds from northern Spain, Italy and Greece north to southern UK, Denmark and Lithuania. Resident or migratory. Birds from NE Europe winter in S Europe.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendIncreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		9120000-16300000,12100000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Common Firecrest

Predominant direction of movement of East-European birds is ENE – WSW, most connections are with the Low Countries and also some with Denmark. Birds from West-Europe move mainly in NE –SW direction to the UK, SW France and Spain. There are few connections with Denmark, S Sweden, Czechia and N Africa. UK birds move from NNW to SSE, most birds stay in Southern UK, some move the Low countries and W France. There are almost no encounters in SE Europe.

Recoveries by Condition for Common Firecrest

Until 1994 annual numbers of encounters were below 80. Then numbers increased to around 500 between 2003 and 2013. After 2013 numbers increased further to around 1000 with a maximum of 1408 in 2015. In spring, most encounters are between 22 March and 11 April, in fall the peak lies between 18 October and 17 November.
over 95% of re-encountered birds are ring recoveries. Shot birds are virtually absent after 1991, but made up 38% prior to 1960 and 15% between 1960 and 1990.

Annual Movements for Common Firecrest

Birds in November - March in the UK and the Low Countries are partly residents and partly migrants from C and E Europe. In March - April the migrants leave to their Eastern breeding areas. In the UK, residents mainly stay in SE. In September - October migrants return . Also in Spain and Italy there is a mixed population of residents and migrants from November - March. In Spain, migrants start leaving in March to the breeding areas in W and C Europe. In Italy migration to C Europe starts a bit later in April. In September - October birds move back to winter in Spain and Italy.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Common Firecrest

Birds from Denmark and S Sweden are found in the Low Countries in September and November. UK birds mainly move within the UK itself. There are also connections with France and the Low Countries from September - January and again in April - May. Also with Germany in April and September. Central European birds mainly move to South- and West-Europe where they are found from October to December and March - April. There are also connections with the UK in March and November. Easternmost connections for Central European birds are with Lithuania in October and April.  Birds breeding in West Europe are found in France, Spain and even Morocco in winter. Birds on autumn passage in Sep-Dec reach France and UK in winter, or Northern Central and Eastern Europe in April.

Henk van der Jeugd

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries