Smallest British bird?

[nelliegemini]

well yeah good point ...... i loved the goodies.

Yes, I loved the Goodies too, and I 'spose the clip was slightly relevant - it did have a goose in it. But if Bill Oddie hadn't said Goldcrest, I would have definitely gone for Firecrest. Perhaps if Kate'd said Goldcrest?

[Alice]

Thanks for that Birdie Wife. But as an aside, the wren has the greatest volume - noise wise - for size.

[Tam]

The RSPB: Firecrest - From this, it would appear that the Firecrest is about the same size as a Goldcrest. One of my fond memories is parking in a layby in the Yorkshire Dales and watching a pair of Goldcrests feed their youngsters in the hedge not more than two feet away.

[aud]

we were lucky enough to have a breeding pair of goldcrests in our garden this year. They would come and gather cobwebs from the wall under the window, its not till you see them up close that you realise how tiny they are compared to a wren.

[Birdie Wife]

There is overlap in the sizes so some firecrests are bigger than some goldcrests - here's some measurements from Birds of the Western Paleartic (top trumps, anyone?):

Firecrest
Wingspan 13 - 16cm
Wing length males 51 - 56mm, females 48 - 53mm
Weight 4 - 6.5g

Goldcrest
Wingspan 13.5cm - 15.5cm
Wing length males 51 - 59mm females 49 - 56mm
Weight 4.5 - 7g

So there's not much in it really!

[Polly Fouracre]

True, but you is Cornish innit? I didn't think Cornishions liked being British...

We don't mind being British (I suppose) it's being called English we object to !!

[digthatchick]

I have Goldcrests in my Fir trees at home. Tiny little birds, they nest every year.

[smallblueplanet]

We sometimes get a goldcrest appearing around the garden in the wintertime, they'll have ago at the fat feeders and the peanuts, they're really teeny-weeny and so cute with it. Never seen a firecrest (yet, I hope to!)....

[wellie]

Oh, now I'm going to have to look both of those up....because actually, I thought I knew which was which, and now I'm not sure. But on Wednesday, I was planting shrubs for my very favourite client, just above some Silver Birches, and I had to stand stock still to watch it.

There was the tiniest little bird, that personally, I would have, at a guess put down to being a Firecrest..... Wren-like in size, but more 'Warbler-shape'? and had a black and white marking on it's cheek/head, and it was feeding upside down off every leaf from the tree whilst I watched. Special.....

[smallblueplanet]

Goldcrest - Regulus regulus




Firecrest

[johnty greentoes]

... I heard that the long tailed tit would be the smallest if it wasn't for it's tail - if that makes sense.

[piskieinboots]

... I heard that the long tailed tit would be the smallest if it wasn't for it's tail - if that makes sense.

yep - in here it makes sense

[johnty greentoes]

Am working with the RSPB today - will get the definitive answer (from a puffin expert though!)

[Flummery]

When he calms down and stops puffin you might get a bit of sense out of him.

I'll get me coat.

[Birdie Wife]

Boom Boom!! Nice one Flum. Johnty, I do work for the RSPB

This is the reserve where I am a warden... not many firecrests or goldcrests but we do have a few wrens nesting in drystone dykes and ivy I ithink they are definitely on my top ten favourite bird list.