Common Firecrest
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Regulus ignicapilla
Rare & local breeder with at least 1,500 breeding pairs, scarce migrant with a few 100s per year in Britain.
Breeds in the Mediterranean, Europe.
The sexes are very similar, apart from the crest colour, although the Female is a little duller in plumage and on average slightly smaller.
Juveniles have a grey tinge to the duller upperparts, and lack the coloured crown; the other head markings are present, but duller than in the Adult.
The song is a succession of call notes in a longer and slightly more varied sequence.
Typically there are 11–14 notes per song, becoming louder and faster, with the final three notes slightly different from the preceding ones: zit-zit-zit-zit-zit-zit-zit-zit-zit-zit-zirt.zirt.zirt.