Editing Common firecrest (section)

=== Predators and parasites ===
[[File:Accipiter nisus Meneer Zjeroen.jpg|upright|thumb|The [[Eurasian sparrowhawk]] is a major predator of small songbirds.]]

Throughout the firecrest's range, the main predator of small woodland birds is the Eurasian sparrowhawk, which takes avian prey as up to 98% of its diet.<ref name= gensbol>{{cite book | last = Génsbøl| first = Benny | title = Birds of Prey | year = 1987 |location = London | publisher = Collins | isbn = 978-0-00-219176-0 |pages = 154–156 }}</ref> The [[tawny owl]] relies more on mammalian catches, but about one-third of its food is forest birds.<ref name=Voous >{{cite book | last = Voous | first = Karel H | author-link = Karel H. Voous | others= Cameron, Ad (illustrator) |title = Owls of the Northern Hemisphere| year = 1988 |location = London | publisher = Collins | isbn =978-0-00-219493-8 |pages = 209–219}}</ref> Eggs and young may be taken by grey squirrels, Eurasian jays and great spotted woodpeckers.<ref name= BB103/> The firecrest appears to be virtually unknown as a [[host (biology)|host]] of the [[common cuckoo]], a widespread European [[brood parasite]].<ref name=soler1>{{cite journal | last= Soler | first= Juan Josė |author2=Møller, Anders Pape |date=January 1995 | title= A comparative analysis of the evolution of variation in appearance of eggs of European passerines in relation to brood parasitism  | journal= Behavioral Ecology | volume= 7 | issue = 1 | pages= 89–94 | doi=10.1093/beheco/7.1.89| doi-access= free }}</ref><ref name=soler2>{{cite journal|last=Soler |first=Juan Josė |author2=Møller, Anders Pape |author3=Soler, Manuel |year=1999 |title=A comparative study of host selection in the European cuckoo ''Cuculus canorus'' |journal=Oecologia |volume=118 |issue=2 |pages=265–276 |url=http://www.eeza.csic.es/eeza/documentos/soler_cuckoo%20host%20selection.pdf |doi=10.1007/s004420050727 |pmid=28307703 |bibcode=1999Oecol.118..265S |s2cid=17699909 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921063630/http://www.eeza.csic.es/eeza/documentos/soler_cuckoo%20host%20selection.pdf |archive-date=2010-09-21 }}</ref>

The invasive [[Argentine ant]] (''Linepithema humile'') is common in the Mediterranean area, and reduces [[arthropod]] numbers by removing most native ant species. The reduction in prey items is greatest in the tree canopy, and has a greater effect on species like the firecrest that feed high in the foliage. Less food is available for chicks, and parents have to spend more time foraging.<ref name= Argentine >{{cite journal | last= Estany-Tigerström | first= David |author2=Bas, Josep Maria|author3=Pons, Pere | year=2010 | title= Does Argentine ant invasion affect prey availability for foliage-gleaning birds?  | journal= Biological Invasions | volume= 12 | issue= 4 | pages= 827–839 | doi = 10.1007/s10530-009-9504-6| s2cid= 40826707 }}</ref>

Data on specific parasites of the firecrest is lacking, but the widespread [[moorhen flea]], ''Dasypsyllus gallinulae'' has been recorded in a related ''Regulus'' species.<ref name = Rothschild >{{cite book |title= Fleas, Flukes and Cuckoos. A study of bird parasites |author= Rothschild, Miriam |author-link= Miriam Rothschild |author2= Clay, Theresa |year= 1953 |publisher= Collins |location= London |page = 113 |url= https://archive.org/details/fleasflukescucko017900mbp |format = PDF}}</ref> A number of [[feather mite]]s have been recorded in the genus, including ''Proctophyllodes glandarinus'' on firecrest. These mites live on fungi growing on the feathers.<ref name = mites>{{cite web |author1=Schöne, Richard |author2=Schmäschke, Ronald |author3=Sachse, Margit |title=interesting facts |work=federmilben |url=http://www.federmilben.de/en/interestingfacts.html |publisher=Star-Media GmbH |access-date=2010-10-22 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180009/http://www.federmilben.de/en/interestingfacts.html |url-status=dead }} Retrieved 22 October 2010 <!-- The editors of the feather mite site are two veterinary scientists and a veterinary engineer. Two work at the Institute of Parasitology. --></ref><ref name= Krivolutsky>{{cite journal | last= Krivolutsky | first= Dmitri A |author2=Lebedeva, Natalia V | year=2004 | title= Oribatid mites (Oribatei) in bird feathers: Passeriformes | journal= Acta Zoologica Lituanica | volume= 14 | issue = 2 | pages= 19–38 | url =http://ssc-ras.ru/ras/files/pdf/prlcm_kryvolutskylebedevaazl2004-1.pdf | doi=10.1080/13921657.2004.10512577}}</ref> The fungi found on the plumage may feed on the [[keratin]] of the outer feathers or on feather oil.<ref name= fungi>{{cite journal | last= Pugh | first= G J F |date=April 1972| title=   the contamination of birds' feathers by fungi | journal= [[Ibis (journal)|Ibis]] | volume= 114 | issue = 2 | pages= 172&ndash;177 | doi =  10.1111/j.1474-919x.1972.tb02602.x}}</ref>