I have been trying to learn the difference between the calls of Goldcrest and FIrecrest but am really struggling. I have tried xeno canto but when out in the field I seem to hear so many varied Goldcrest calls I hear one I think is different but when the bird finally shows its a Goldcrest. I love watching goldcrests but would be great not to have to wait for each one to show its self just to be certain I dont miss a firecrest. So I was wondering does anyone have any advice on accurately seperating the calls or does it always involve some guessing?
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Goldcrest / Firecrest calls. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter mike86
- Start date
Xenospiza
Distracted
It's not easy. The trilling call of Firecrest tends to be a bit higher than that of Goldcrest: I think is that how I usually find Firecrests (but they're both very common where I live).
The twittering calls are not really distinguishable (to me).
Don't listen to too many calls... just try these:
Goldcrest: http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/OOECIWCSWV/XC281606-405 91 Goudhaan 91 Roep.mp3
Firecrest: http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/OOECIWCSWV/XC281610-406 6 Vuurgoudhaan 6 Roep.mp3
The song is a lot easier... but singing Firecrests can be a nightmare to see.
The twittering calls are not really distinguishable (to me).
Don't listen to too many calls... just try these:
Goldcrest: http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/OOECIWCSWV/XC281606-405 91 Goudhaan 91 Roep.mp3
Firecrest: http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/OOECIWCSWV/XC281610-406 6 Vuurgoudhaan 6 Roep.mp3
The song is a lot easier... but singing Firecrests can be a nightmare to see.
Mike86
If your location (Hants) is correct then you have access to a LOT of Firecrests which will certainly help.
They sing a lot and its easy to pick them up then although not so much over the next few months.
As xenospiza says they are difficult to see.......but only when they are in tall dense conifers. If you can find some in
more mixed habitats then they are pretty easy; the song carries surprisingly well if its not windy and there's little background noise.
I can point you to some New Forest or West Sussex sites where they are easy
Russ
If your location (Hants) is correct then you have access to a LOT of Firecrests which will certainly help.
They sing a lot and its easy to pick them up then although not so much over the next few months.
As xenospiza says they are difficult to see.......but only when they are in tall dense conifers. If you can find some in
more mixed habitats then they are pretty easy; the song carries surprisingly well if its not windy and there's little background noise.
I can point you to some New Forest or West Sussex sites where they are easy
Russ
MSA
I may be relaxed but I'm not drunk....
Personally, I find the usual Goldcrest calls to be higher than Firecrest, but confusingly Goldcrest also do a lower call on occasion! I also find that Firecrest seem to call in shorter bursts and do less (what I describe as) twittering on to themselves. However, there are many occasions when I have no idea which I'm listening to; I'm sure there is a degree of overlap, or maybe I'm just not that competent
Songs are pretty straightforward though.
KenM
Well-known member
Can't help you on the calls Mike (I rarely hear them), however I've found them locally (London,Essex) in Holly and Ivy banks, within the woods and on the edges of.
They frequently hover in front of and above the latter, I generally find that Firecrest is a ''faster'' mover than Goldcrest mostly (but not always), and in good light appears a brighter ''leaf'' green on the upper-parts and much whiter on the unders. here's one from a few days ago.
Cheers
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Tiraya
San Diego CA
I encountered this same problem quite commonly when I lived in the New Forest. I spent all my time following calls to help learning, but every single call was goldcrest. I never encountered firecrest, though its apparently regular there, so as far as I know I've never heard firecrest. I'm hoping that it would sound somewhat different at least to my ear given I've had so much experience now with goldcrest variants.
But of course, as Ken notes, see the bird and its usually easy from there. (easier said than done when its a speck up in the pine/beech canopy though!)
@Xenospiza, that call labelled firecrest, I've heard it from goldcrest too on a number of occasions.
But of course, as Ken notes, see the bird and its usually easy from there. (easier said than done when its a speck up in the pine/beech canopy though!)
@Xenospiza, that call labelled firecrest, I've heard it from goldcrest too on a number of occasions.
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Cheers for the replies, Yeah I have seen one well enough to photo in the new forest area which we picked out from the song which was easy enough I don't remember it calling though, But I was so happy to see one I probably just didn't take it in. I do find it far easier to learn calls from watching the bird calling rather than listening to clips online, which clearly isn't ideal for some birds like Firecrest as I have to find the bird I cant find to learn. :-C
i see more Firecrests than Goldcrests in the New Forest these days, esp in spring & summer. i used to make the mistakes of searching the conifers, and high up in the canopies for Firecrests and blank every time. now through experience i find them quite regularly just in the basic mature deciduous areas.. i find they also feed lower down in general to Goldcrests. plus theres one other ingredient involved in finding them, Hollys. find places where theres an understore of Holly bushes, and eventually you will come up trumps... myself, i find the call of the Firecrest a tad stronger and more soild than the Goldcrest.. p.s. a good area is to park up at Acres down(ive had them in the car park) and walk down into the forest towards and around Highland water etc...
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jurek
Well-known member
Firecrest calls are louder, and in a series more separated.
Also Firecrests have narrower habitat preferences. Firecests avoid pines in general, and any uniform conifer stands without any broadleaved trees, so your problem may be that in your local patch there are only Goldcrests (like it was with me for several years).
Also Firecrests have narrower habitat preferences. Firecests avoid pines in general, and any uniform conifer stands without any broadleaved trees, so your problem may be that in your local patch there are only Goldcrests (like it was with me for several years).
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Quietly decomposing
In terms of the song, I find the Goldcrest's to be similar in rhythm to a Chaffinch - an accelerating patter, followed by a cascade at the end. I've heard this described as akin to a fast bowler in cricket - the run up and then the delivery of the ball. The Firecrest, on the other hand, is a shorter pattern, where the cascade at the end is omitted.
Peter
Peter
