Madeira Firecrest Regulus madeirensis Harcourt, 1851

Description
An endemic bird of Madeira, very small in size, it is easily identified by its crown stripe, yellow in the females, and orange-coloured in the males. It also has a dark eye-stripe with a white supercilious stripe, that mainly distinguishes the Madeiran species from its European congenerous.

Distribution
The firecrest’s distribution is generalized, being found all around the island of Madeira, although not normally found oat sea level and on any other island of the archipelago.

Habitat
The Laurel forest, the mid- to high-altitude zones of heath and areas of indigenous vegetation are the most likely places to find the firecrest, which feeds on insects it finds on the leaves and branches.

Breeding
The firecrest builds hanging circular nests in bushes, using spider webs interwoven with small branches or moss.

Curiosities
The firecrest is the smallest bird of Madeira and Europe. It demonstrates unusual differences in relation to its congener on the mainland, so that in 2003, its status as a subspecies endemic to Madeira Regulus ignicapillus madeirensis was changed to that of a full species.

Madeiran name: Bisbis
Madeira Archipelago resident breeder
Social: Small flocks
Length: 8 -8,5 cm
Status: Scarse/Localized

Also known as:
Madeira-Goldhähnchen (GER)
Roitelet triple bandeau (FRA)

Recommend Tours to watch this species:
Madeira full-day birdwatching tour
Madeira nature fauna & flora tour
Madeira half-day birdwatching tour