The golden-crowned kinglet may be a tiny bird, but it has both bold coloring and a bold personality that make it a favorite among birders.
Common Name:
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Scientific Name:
Regulus satrapa
Appearance:
- Bill: Straight, small, black
- Size: 4 inches long with 7-inch wingspan, round body, short tail
- Colors: Olive green, black, buff, orange, yellow, gray, brown, white
- Markings: Dimorphic species. Males are overall gray or olive green with whitish underparts. Dark wings show yellow edging and two small buff wing bars. Bold head markings include a dark eye stripe, thick buff brow and a bold crown with orange bordered in yellow, bordered in black. Females look the same but the crown is completely yellow and lacks the orange center; even on males the orange may be difficult to see. Both genders have brown legs and feet.
Foods:
Insects, seeds, sap
Habitat and Migration:
Golden-crowned kinglets are found in primarily coniferous or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. They can be found year-round in the mountain pine forests of the Pacific Northwest as far north as southern Alaska, along with similar habitats in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Appalachian Mountains. In summer, these small birds range throughout boreal Canada, and in winter they spread throughout the continental United States except for the southernmost parts of Florida, California and Arizona.
Vocalizations:
The golden-crowned kinglet's song is as distinctive as its appearance, with a high, warbling whistle that starts with 2-3 slow notes that grow faster and end with slightly deeper, musical chirps.
Behavior:
These are active birds that forage constantly, often hanging upside down to glean insects. They will also hawk insects from the air and may hover briefly while feeding. They can also be aggressive and will drive larger birds away from preferred feeding and breeding areas, using their raised crest to show agitation. While often solitary, golden-crowned kinglets will join mixed feeding flocks with chickadees, nuthatches and creepers in the fall and winter.
Reproduction:
The breeding season is short in boreal forests, and these monogamous birds will raise 1-2 broods of 5-10 eggs each during the summer. The female parent incubates the eggs for 14-15 days, and both parents will feed the altricial young for 15-19 days. When the fledglings leave the nest, the male parent continues to care for them while the female immediately begins to lay a second brood.
Attracting Golden-Crowned Kinglets:
These birds will come to backyards that offer thick coniferous trees and shrubs for adequate cover, and where insecticide use is minimized so food is abundant. In the field, golden-crowned kinglets are also easily drawn to pishing.
Similar Birds:
- Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
- Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
- Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus)
Photo – Golden-Crowned Kinglet © Michael Woodruff
