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Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa L 4" (10cm)

Photo by Maslowski Wildlife Productions. Listen to a golden-crowned kinglet.

Golden-crowned kinglets are birds of coniferous forests, especially spruce, in all seasons. It is much rarer to find one in deciduous habitat. They pick for food among clumps of needles and on cones, from which they can often be spotted hanging upside down as they probes between the scales. Even high in the trees the brightly striped head and the golden crown are distinctive and easy to spot.

The song is a variable three-part series of high thin see notes, the third part typically lower, faster, and somewhat jumbled. The common call is a high thin see, sometimes given in a short series. The song and the call are easy to miss, especially if there is any other source of noise nearby.

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