Western Canary Islands Goldcrest
Encyclopedia
The Western Canary Islands Goldcrest, Regulus regulus ellenthalerae, is a very small passerine
bird in the kinglet
family. It is restricted to the western Canary Islands
of La Palma
and El Hierro
where it is a non-migratory resident.
Previously thought to be the same taxon as the Tenerife Goldcrest
Regulus regulus teneriffae, it was separated as a distinct subspecies of the Goldcrest
which apparently evolved from an independent colonisation of the islands 1.3–1.8 million years ago.
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird in the kinglet
Kinglet
The kinglets or crests are a small group of birds sometimes included in the Old World warblers, but are frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice. The scientific name Regulidae is derived from the Latin word regulus for "petty king" or prince, and comes from the...
family. It is restricted to the western Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
of La Palma
La Palma
La Palma is the most north-westerly of the Canary Islands. La Palma has an area of 706 km2 making it the fifth largest of the seven main Canary Islands...
and El Hierro
El Hierro
El Hierro, nicknamed Isla del Meridiano , is the smallest and farthest south and west of the Canary Islands , in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, with a population of 10,162 .- Name :The name El Hierro, although phonetically identical to the Spanish word for 'iron', is generally thought...
where it is a non-migratory resident.
Previously thought to be the same taxon as the Tenerife Goldcrest
Tenerife Goldcrest
The Tenerife Goldcrest, Regulus regulus teneriffae, is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family, closely resembling the Goldcrest but with a broader black band across the forehead, slightly darker underparts and a longer bill...
Regulus regulus teneriffae, it was separated as a distinct subspecies of the Goldcrest
Goldcrest
The Goldcrest, Regulus regulus, is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden crest feathers gives rise to its English and scientific names, and possibly to it being called the "king of the birds" in European folklore. Several subspecies are recognised across the very...
which apparently evolved from an independent colonisation of the islands 1.3–1.8 million years ago.