Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Regulus calendula
Summary 3
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) is a very small perching bird with olive-green plumage with two white wing bars and a white eye-ring. Males have a red crown patch, which is usually concealed. The sexes are identical (apart from the crown), and juveniles are similar in plumage to adults. It is one of the smallest songbirds in North America.
Similar SpeciesGolden-crowned Kinglet by that species’ pale face, black eye-stripe, and yellow on the head.
Where on campus? 4
Ruby crowned Kinglets can be found in the winter, usually in the woods and conifers surround the perimeter of the campus.
Habitat 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglets breed in northern and high-mountain evergreen forests. In winter, this species may be found in a variety of forest habitats from temperate deciduous woodland to open tropical forest.
Life History Traits 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are gleaners that eat small insects and spiders, but will also eat fruit and seeds during the winter or when invertebrates are not available.
Distribution 4
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet breeds across Alaska, Canada, and the northern tier of the United States. In the west, this species’ range extends south at higher elevations as far as southern Arizona. In winter, most populations migrate south to the southern half of the U.S., along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to California, and in Mexico, although some populations breeding in the mountain west simply winter at lower altitudes nearby.
Migratory 4
Migrate from N. U.S.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Dan Pancamo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/10017367@N03/5214434381
- Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Regulus_calendula1.jpg/460px-Regulus_calendula1.jpg
- Adapted by gillian360 from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulus_calendula
- (c) gillian360, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
