The Golden-crowned Kinglet: A Royally Charming Winter Resident

Golden-crowned Kinglet in winterberry - Bowdoin, Maine (photo: Dana Greindl of DWG Photography)

Golden-crowned Kinglet in winterberry - Bowdoin, Maine (photo: Dana Greindl of DWG Photography)

“This tiny but mighty bird easily tolerates subzero temperatures and makes a winter living in the evergreen forests of Maine...”

If you're not a birder, you may not be familiar with this little marvel. For those of you that are unacquainted, I'm delighted to present to you the Golden-crowned Kinglet!

This tiny but mighty bird tolerates subzero temperatures and makes a winter living in the evergreen forests of Maine by gleaning small, soft-bodied insects from the needles, branches, and bark crevices of trees and shrubs.

Can you imagine surviving the entire winter - outside among all the harsh elements - on that nourishment alone? To put it plainly, these wee birds (weighing no more than two pennies) survive the long cold winter on nothing but little insects they collect from trees. Inconceivable!

Many overwintering birds rely on calorie-dense seeds to get them through the lean season. You’re unlikely to see Golden-crowned Kinglets at your feeder, however. Their year-round diet is mostly insectivorous.

The sister species of this bird is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet; collectively they form the small Family of birds known as Regulidae, from the Latin root word 'regulus', meaning "petty king".

If you spend any time walking in coniferous forests, you've no doubt wandered right under these busy little birds without knowing it. They feed high in the treetops and are so small and active that they are easily missed - unless you’re a seasoned birder and can recognize the noisy high-pitched calls of foraging flocks.

Even seasoned birders can struggle to get a good look at these birds - but when you do, oh - what sweet reward.

That's why I am so awed by the wildlife photography skills of the talented Dana Greindl of DWG Wildlife Photography - what a royal capture! The crown is not always visible, and best seen when the bird is facing head-on. I am especially enamored with the backdrop of red berries from one of our top native shrubs for wildlife: winterberry (Ilex verticillata).

Want to know more? I recommend this great article: the life of a Golden-crowned Kinglet by Bob Duchesne.

I hope you enjoyed this Phenology Note!

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#ThePersonalEcologistI partner with eco-minded landowners to create thriving wildlife habitats in their backyards, gardens, fields and farms, woods or campuses - at any scale.I have 25 years of experience in my field, and a lifelong commitment to wi…

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