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Ruby-crowned Kinglet - (Regulus calendula)
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Because of our abundant
vegetation, we were astonished to discover a first time
visitor. It took us several bird books to determine what
our new little bird was. At first the tiny red spot on
the back of his head looked like a stray reflection or
photo anomaly. This adorable, small egg-like bird is a
male ruby-crowned kinglet, stopping by on his journey
from his summer home in Canada to his warm winter spot
further south.
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Whie
named ruby-crowned, the male's red tuft is only raised
and observed when agitated. Otherwise, it is normally
hidden among his olive green head feathers. The Latin
word calendula means a bright yellow or orange flower
(although usually considered red, sometimes the tuft can
be orange or yellow).
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Regulus can be translated
to mean king, and thus wears his crown. Adding a "let"
suffix changes the meaning to small king, because he is
a very, tiny bird (the second smallest bird found in New
York).
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We were especially pleased
to see the ruby-crowned kinglet during his winter
migration. It was truly a pleasure to see a hint of the
elusive ruby crown.
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Size:
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Length:
4 in
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Weight:
.2oz
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Wingspan:
6.75-7.5 in
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ID:
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Male:
Tiny egg-shaped; olive green upperparts; paler
underparts; bold, broken, white eye-ring; bill
short, black, thin and pointed and upturned;
dark reddish feet anisodactylous (three toes
point forward and one toe points backward);
wings dark with two strong white bars and yellow
edges on secondaries and tertials; short,
notched dark tail with yellow edges; red crown
patch usually hidden unless excited and this
crest can be raised
Female:
Same as male, but without the ruby crown
Juvenile:
Same as female
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Habitat:
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Coniferous and
mixed woodland and thickets
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Diet:
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Mostly insects and spiders, their eggs and larvae; may hawk
and hover or pick insects from tree trunks or
foliage; also eats some berries and seeds;
drinks sap from sapsucker holes; flicks wings
open and closed possibly to agitate insects; at
feeders: mealworms, oil type sunflower seeds and
suet; may come to nectar feeders
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Family Behavior:
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Mating Habits:
Monogamous and solitary; 1 brood a year
Local
Breeding Period: None
Nests:
Built by female; made of moss, lichen, twigs,
grasses and dead leaves held together with
spider webs; lined with fur or feathers; hung
from branch 2 to 100 feet above ground in
conifer; pendulous and deep; well hidden from
view
Eggs:
5-12 off-white with brown and gray splotches;
female incubates 11-14 days
Nestlings:
Born altricial (helpless, naked, eyes closed)
and stay in nest 10-16 days; fed by both parents
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Social Activities:
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Usually solitary
or in pairs; in mixed flocks of small birds
during migration and in wintertime; tame; often
seen flicking wings open and closed at ends of
conifers (stirring up insects)
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Range:
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Breeding: Canada,
Alaska and Northwest US
Winters: Southern
US, Mexico and Central America
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Vocalization:
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Song is long and
very loud for the size of this bird; starts with
high-pitched, thin notes followed by chattering
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Sighted in our Backyard:
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Winter migration
seen in October
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Lifespan:
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5 years
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