At 9.5 centimeters, the firecrest is one of the smallest birds in Europe. Yet he is anything but inconspicuous. In recent days, this colorful migratory bird has been seen remarkably often in Drenthe.
If you look closely, you can easily distinguish it from the common goldcrest, which is the smallest bird in Europe at 9 centimeters. Because the firecrest has a clear white eyebrow stripe, a black eye stripe and bronze-colored feathers in the side neck, which the normal goldcrest does not have. In the male, the bright orange crown, framed by black, is particularly striking. That’s also where it owes its name: firegoudhaan.
The firecrest is mainly known in the Netherlands as a migratory bird. In autumn and winter, many firecrests migrate south from Northern and Eastern Europe, such as Scandinavia and Russia, to hibernate. Some of those brave migratory birds also end up in Drenthe, where they look for food in forests, parks and gardens. Those who are lucky may even find this little bird on the sidewalk. Sometimes they are so exhausted from their long journey that they cannot fly any further and just sit quietly at the first and best place to recover.
Just like the common goldcrest, the firecrest mainly lives on small insects and spiders. While searching for food, it shows remarkable behavior: it can flutter silently in the air, also known as praying. He picks insects from branches, leaves and even from spider webs, sometimes including the spider.