Goldcrest
VU

Goldcrest

Regulus regulus

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldcrest

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Goldcrest faces mounting pressure from climate change, which is altering the composition and structure of its preferred coniferous forests across Europe. Severe winter weather events, intensified by changing climate patterns, cause significant mortality in this tiny bird species. Forest management practices that favor monoculture plantations over diverse coniferous woodlands reduce habitat quality and prey availability.

Threat summary

Habitat

Goldcrests inhabit mature coniferous forests, particularly spruce and fir woodlands, where they forage among dense needle clusters for small insects and spiders. They also utilize mixed forests with significant coniferous components and large parks with established conifer plantings.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Goldcrest classified as Vulnerable?
Goldcrest is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Goldcrest faces mounting pressure from climate change, which is altering the composition and structure of its preferred coniferous forests across Europe. Severe winter weather events, intensified by changing climate patterns, cause significant mortality in this tiny bird species. Forest management practices that favor monoculture plantations over diverse coniferous woodlands reduce habitat quality and prey availability.
Where does Goldcrest live?
Goldcrest occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Goldcrest?
The main threats to Goldcrest are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.