Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, male

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet, female

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

One of North America's smallest birds, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet can be recognized by its constant wing-flicking. The male shows its red crown only infrequently.

Description

• Tiny bird.
• Dull, olive-green.
• Wingbars.
• Eyering.
• Short tail.
• In constant motion, continually flicking its wings.
• Male with red crown (usually hidden).

• Size: 9-11 cm (4-4 in)
• Wingspan: 16-18 cm (6-7 in)
• Weight: 5-10 g (0.18-0.35 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, but female without red crown.

Sound

Song a jumble of notes, starting with two or three high "tsees," followed by five or six lower "tur" notes, and ending with repeated "tee-da-lett" phrases. Call a quick "di-dit."

Conservation Status

Common. May be declining in some areas.

Other Names

Roitelet à couronne rubis (French)
Reyezuelo de Rojo, Reyezuelo Monicolorado, Reyezuelo de Coronilla Colorado, Reyezuelo (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny bird that lays a very large clutch of eggs. Although the eggs themselves weigh only 0.65 g (0.02 oz), an entire clutch can weigh as much as the female herself.

Sources used to construct this page:

Ingold, J. L., and G. E. Wallace. 1994. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula). In The Birds of North America, No. 119 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.