PURE GOLD

How lucky - wonderful day birding in East Yorkshire. Stopped for a coffee next to a pine tree and look who popped in !

The Goldcrest is smaller than the Wren and is Europe's smallest bird.

The main problem in identifying the Goldcrest is to first see it, as it is usually scurrying around tree trunks and branches, rarely keeping still. This one was typical but the photo is relatively sharp.

LOOKS LIKE - The general appearance of a Goldcrest is that of a dull olive-green bird with pale whitish underparts and a conspicuous gold stripe on its crown. On closer inspection, there are two whitish wing bars and a dark mark on the wings. The black-bordered crest stripe is orange in the male and yellow in the female. The dark eye is easily seen against its whitish face. The thin bill is black and the legs are brown.
Juveniles are similar to the adults but lack the head markings.

DIET - Their diet is mainly insects and spiders, which they usually find among the leaves and branches, and sometimes by hovering underneath the leaves. Their favoured trees are spruce, pine and fir.

NESTING - The nest is suspended near the end of a conifer branch and is made by the female. The nest is made from moss, lichens and spiders' webs, and lined with feathers. They will also nest among ivy.
The female Goldcrest lays and incubates eggs that are smooth, non-glossy and white or pale buff with brownish speckles. The eggs are about 14 mm by 11 mm. Both parents feed the young after they have hatched.
A great day !