Goldcrest
Scientific Name: Regulus regulusMaltese Name: Bufula tal-Qamar
Family: Crests (Regulidae)
Occurence: Regular
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Goldcrest is a very small passerine bird in the kinglets (crests) family. Its colourful golden crest feathers gives rise to its English and scientific names. This crest 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 Firecrest, 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. The Goldcrest breeds in coniferous woodland and gardens. 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.
Status:
Regular migrant and wintering bird.
When to See:
Late October till early March.
Where to See:
May be seen anywhere where there is a good number of trees, especially Pine and Cypress trees. Buskett and Mizieb are the largest wooded areas in malta, hence the best places to see Goldcrest.
Photographs:
 |
Goldcrest, University Grounds |
 |
Goldcrest, Imgarr ix-Xini |
Back to Bird Species List