Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are small, energetic songbirds frequently found in Oregon, especially during migration and in their wintering grounds. They are known for their constant, almost nervous, wing-flicking behavior.
Male Ruby-crowned Kinglet: The distinguishing feature of the male is a bright scarlet (ruby-red) crown patch on the top of its head. However, this patch is often concealed by other feathers and can be very difficult to see. It is usually only flashed when the bird is agitated, excited, or during courtship displays (e.g., when singing or interacting with rivals/mates).
Female Ruby-crowned Kinglet: The female lacks the ruby-red crown patch entirely. Her head will be uniformly grayish-olive like the rest of her upperparts.
Both sexes share the following general plumage characteristics:
Overall Coloration: They are generally olive-green on their upperparts and dusky white on their underparts.
Eye-ring: They have a prominent, but often broken, white eye-ring. This can be a useful field mark to distinguish them from other small, plain birds.
Wing Bars: They have two strong white wing bars on their wings, with a darker or blackish bar adjacent to the lower white wing bar.
Bill and Legs: They have a very small, thin bill and often show thin, black legs with yellowish feet. This can be a subtle but helpful distinction from similar-looking birds like Hutton's Vireos.
Key Identification Tip:
Because the male's red crown is often hidden, it can be challenging to sex Ruby-crowned Kinglets based solely on plumage. The most reliable way to tell them apart is to either:
1. See the male display his crown: This usually happens when he's singing enthusiastically in the spring, or when he's agitated.
2. Assume female if no red is ever visible: If you observe a bird for a significant period and never see a hint of red on its crown, it's highly likely a female.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are incredibly active foragers, constantly flitting and hopping through branches while flicking their wings, making them a fun but sometimes challenging bird to observe in Oregon's diverse habitats.
Male Ruby-crowned Kinglet: The distinguishing feature of the male is a bright scarlet (ruby-red) crown patch on the top of its head. However, this patch is often concealed by other feathers and can be very difficult to see. It is usually only flashed when the bird is agitated, excited, or during courtship displays (e.g., when singing or interacting with rivals/mates).
Female Ruby-crowned Kinglet: The female lacks the ruby-red crown patch entirely. Her head will be uniformly grayish-olive like the rest of her upperparts.
Both sexes share the following general plumage characteristics:
Overall Coloration: They are generally olive-green on their upperparts and dusky white on their underparts.
Eye-ring: They have a prominent, but often broken, white eye-ring. This can be a useful field mark to distinguish them from other small, plain birds.
Wing Bars: They have two strong white wing bars on their wings, with a darker or blackish bar adjacent to the lower white wing bar.
Bill and Legs: They have a very small, thin bill and often show thin, black legs with yellowish feet. This can be a subtle but helpful distinction from similar-looking birds like Hutton's Vireos.
Key Identification Tip:
Because the male's red crown is often hidden, it can be challenging to sex Ruby-crowned Kinglets based solely on plumage. The most reliable way to tell them apart is to either:
1. See the male display his crown: This usually happens when he's singing enthusiastically in the spring, or when he's agitated.
2. Assume female if no red is ever visible: If you observe a bird for a significant period and never see a hint of red on its crown, it's highly likely a female.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are incredibly active foragers, constantly flitting and hopping through branches while flicking their wings, making them a fun but sometimes challenging bird to observe in Oregon's diverse habitats.