Madeira Kinglet, Bis Bis (Regulus madeirensis)

This small passerine bird measures 9-10 cm in length and presents pronounced sexual dimorphism. The adult male has green upperparts, an orange crown edged in black and dark wings with white stripes. The female has a yellow crown, also edged in black, and is very similar to the male. The slim straight bill is characteristic of an insectivore. Endemic to Madeira, until recently this bird was considered a subspecies of the Madeira firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla). It lives on the main island of Madeira and Porto Santo, where it is relegated to the highest and wettest peaks. It lives in a wide range of mainly wooded habitats of evergreen, crest-line heather, plantations of exotic trees (especially pines), and farmland with scrub and tree cover. It is a frequent visitor to heath forest, which is also true of the goldcrest (Regulus regulus) in the Canaries. In Madeira it is found above 1,600 m and is far more common on the north flank and central mountains than in the south. It breeds in trees and shrubs (e.g., heather Erica arborea) and each clutch is of 5-7 eggs, usually six. The breeding season is between May and June but can start sooner in low-lying areas, though there is very little information on this issue. This species, which is common and widespread in Madeira, is not considered endangered, despite very low numbers in Porto Santo. It is interesting to note that the first reliable information on the Madeira kinglet in Porto Santo was not obtained until 2000.