Ruby-crowned Kinglet, *Image by Larry Hickey*

This month let’s learn about a frequent visitor in our yards called the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Ruby-crowned Kinglets stay in the Sacramento area in the fall and winter. They are migratory birds, which means they move from one region or habitat to another according to the seasons. In the Spring, Ruby-crowned Kinglets will fly in search of woodland or forest habitats where there are tall, coniferous (cone-bearing) trees to nest in. Most Ruby-crowned Kinglets migrate to the far northern states and Canada; but birds in the western states usually fly east to the foothills or mountains to find the types of tall trees they like. After the nesting season is over, some birds migrate as far south as Mexico for the winter. Sometimes Ruby-crowned Kinglets can be seen traveling in flocks along with other species.

What do Ruby-crowned Kinglets look like?

Ruby-crowned Kinglet male with red crown patch, *Image by Larry Hickey*

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are mainly olive-gray green above with a lighter color (yellowish beige, olive buff, or a dull white) on the chest and abdomen. The male sometimes will have a red or orange patch of feathers on the top of it’s head (or crown). Most of the time this patch is hidden; but this flashy color on the head can appear suddenly when a male Ruby-crowned Kinglets becomes excited or agitated. Except for this head patch, both male and female adults, as well as juvenile (or young) birds, look alike. Ruby-crowned Kinglets have bright white rings along the sides of their eyes and have two white wing bars; the second white wing bar is more noticeable and longer in length. There is a smudgy, black area below the second white wing bar. Ruby-crowned Kinglets have fairly large heads, (compared to their tiny body size). They have short and thin tails, tiny and straight bills, and have very thin black legs.

It may be difficult to get a good look at Ruby-crowned Kinglets because they always seem to be darting from one spot to another. However, when not nesting, they often come down to low bushes or trees in search of food; so you probably will get many chances to see one. Ruby-crowned Kinglets also flick their wings a lot, which is a behavior that may help you identify them.

Where do Ruby-crowned Kinglets live?

In Fall and Winter, you can find Ruby-crowned Kinglets in the Sacramento area in many different wooded habitats, such as nature areas, parks, or suburban yards. In the Spring, Ruby-crowned Kinglets migrate to find dense forests with tall evergreen trees to nest in. Usually their nests are about 40 feet off the ground and can be as high as 90-100 feet! Ruby-crowned Kinglets prefer spruce and fir trees for nesting; but they are sometimes found nesting in other tree species in meadows or in mountain-shrub habitat. The female picks a nest site and builds a cup-shaped nest while the male may look for their food. Nests are made using moss, roots, bark strips, feathers, plant down or fluff, spiderwebs, cocoon silk, tree needles, and twigs, and other plant material. Webs and silk make the nests able to stretch; so as the babies get larger, so does the nest!! There are usually 4-10 eggs laid in the nest; but there can be up to 12! Ruby-crowned Kinglet females usually only lay eggs once per year. The female incubates (sits on the eggs and keeps them warm) for around 14 days. After the babies hatch, both parents help feed them. They will be ready to leave the nest in about 16 days.

What do Ruby-crowned Kinglets eat?

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are mainly insectivorous birds (they eat insects, worms, or other invertebrates). They will eat spiders, wasps, ants, bark beetles, aphids, flies, leafhoppers, bugs, and caterpillars, and both insect and spider eggs. Ruby-crowned Kinglets also eat seeds, tree sap, and berries, such as poison-oak berries and dogwood berries. Inside tree canopies, they will hover and peck looking for insects on leaves and branches. Ruby-crowned Kinglets can also catch flying insects in mid-air.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets seem to be constantly flicking their wings when they look for food. Some experts think this is a way to scare insects out of their hiding places so that they can be caught and eaten. Others think Ruby-crowned Kinglets flick their wings when they are excited.

What does a Ruby-crowned Kinglet sound like?

If you learn the sounds of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, it may help you find them. You can frequently hear them calling and sometimes they will also sing here in the Sacramento Valley. It is interesting that they are pretty loud for such a tiny bird! You can listen now:

These songs and calls of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet are from xeno-canto. More Ruby-crowned Kinglet vocalizations can be found at xeno-canto.org/species/Corthylio-calendula.