Madeira Firecrest

Taxobox
name = Madeira Firecrest
status = NR


image_caption = "Regulus madeirensis"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Regulidae
genus = "Regulus"
species = "R. madeirensis"
binomial = "Regulus madeirensis"
binomial_authority = (Harcourt, 1851)

The Madeira Firecrest, "Regulus madeirensis", is a very small passerine bird, between 8 and 8.5 centimetres long. It is endemic to the island of Madeira.

The Madeira Firecrest is a member of the kinglet family and is very closely allied to the Firecrest, which it was considered a subspecies of until recently. It differs in having a shorter supercilium, duller orange crest and a longer bill, as well as a different song and call notes.

The Madeira Firecrest forages for insects in tree heath woodland and laurisilva forests, and also in gardens. It builds its nest from cobwebs, moss and small twigs, suspending it from a branch and shaping it in the form of a ball.

References and external links

* Sangster, G., et al. (2005). Taxonomic recommendations for British birds. "Ibis" 147: 821-826 Available [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2005.00483.x online] .
* Madeira Birds: [http://www.madeirabirds.com/firecrest_page Madeira Firecrest]