Goldcrest - Predators and Parasites

Predators and Parasites

Throughout the Goldcrest's range, the main predator of small woodland birds is the Eurasian Sparrowhawk, which has a diet consisting of up to 98% of birds. Merlins, Tawny and Long-eared Owls also hunt Goldcrests. The erratic movements and flights of small woodland birds, which are vulnerable to attack while away from cover, may help to confuse their predators. The Goldcrest has only very rarely been recorded as a host of the Common Cuckoo, a widespread European brood parasite.

The Goldcrest is a host of the widespread moorhen flea, Dasypsyllus gallinulae, and of the louse Philopterus reguli. The amblycerous mite Ricinus frenatus has been found on the eastern Goldcrest subspecies, R. r. japonensis in Japan, and at the other end of the range in birds of the nominate subspecies on the Faroes and in Spain. These lice move over the host's body, and have strong mouthparts that pierce the host's skin so that they can feed on blood, and sometimes feather material. A number of feather mites have been recorded in the genus Regulus; these mites live on fungi growing on the feathers. The fungi found on the plumage may feed on the keratin of the outer feathers or on feather oil.