Madeira Firecrest

Regulus madeirensis Harcourt, 1851

Madeira Firecrest, Regulus madeirensis, is a passerine of the kinglet family found in montane Madeira and Puerto Santo in the Madeira group, with birds moving to lower elevations outside the breeding season. It is endemic to Madeira and was described by Harcourt in 1851. The species was once treated as part of the common firecrest, but it is now recognised as distinct. It is separated from its relative by its appearance and vocalisations, and genetic work has supported that split.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Regulidae — Goldcrests, Kinglets

Breeding range

Palearctic: montane Madeira and Puerto Santo (Madeira group, nc Macaronesia, nw of n Africa)

Nonbreeding range

to lower elevations