- Taiwan Firecrest
Taxobox
name = Taiwan Firecrest
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
image_width = 200px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia =Regulidae
genus = "Regulus"
species = "R. goodfellowi"
binomial = "Regulus goodfellowi"
binomial_authority = Ogilvie-Grant, 1906The Taiwan Firecrest, also Taiwan Flamecrest, ("Regulus goodfellowi") is a species ofbird that is endemic toTaiwan . It usually inhabitsevergreen trees inconiferous forest s in cold areas, being the most common at elevations of 2500 m and up. It is found at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 3,700m.Alishan ,Tayuling ,Hehuanshan ,Yu Shan , and the higher areas ofAnmashan are good places to look for this bird.Appearance
The Taiwan Firecrest is a small-bodied perching bird, resembling a
warbler . Its total length is only 9 cm. It is the smallest of all the endemic bird species in Taiwan, and the most colorful member of its family, Regulidae, in the world.The top of the Firecrest's head is
yellow and orange, withblack crown stripes. White feathers encircling its black eyes on its white face give it the appearance of having two "black eyes". Their most distinguishing characteristic is the orange-yellow crest on top of their heads, for which they are named.Behavior
The Taiwan Firecrest is primarily an
insectivore and these birds are often seen nibbling oninsect s and their larvae on the branches and leaf sheathes of trees in coniferous forests, hovering andgleaning from leaf to stem. Weeds and berries may also be taken as food occasionally.Firecrests are very picky as to which type of tree to perch on and search for food, and usually prefer
conifers (evergreens). They usually dwell high in the treetops but will venture into lower shrubs and bushes sometimes.Firecrests are active and restless birds, hopping and fluttering about in the canopy. These lively
songbird s are mainly solitary but will move around actively in small, loose flocks of their own species as well asCoal Tit s andEurasian Nuthatch es. The flight of the Taiwan Firecrest is rather weak and whirring.Firecrests have a fine, shrill and high-pitched voice that typically sounds like "zi , zi yi" Although their call is quite noisy, it is pretty soft and is usually not detected from great distances.
The breeding biology of this species is poorly known.
References
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.