Very similar to Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) but has a broad white supercillium and dark eye-stripe. Male has orange crown stripe, female a yellow one. Both sexes have a bronze tinge to the shoulders

Breeds in deciduous and mixed woodlands but will be found also in coniferous woodland.

All year round but passage birds arrive in September and October returning in March and April

Widespread as a breeding bird in southern England but is on the 'Amber List' of Birds of Conservation Concern

Scarce passage migrant and rare winter visitor