Golden-crowned Kinglet

Resident in Sonoma County year-round, but restricted mostly to conifer forest. The bird’s small size, inconspicuous call, and its tendency to remain high in conifers makes it comparatively hard to detect. Sightings are therefore comparatively uncommon. Becomes more widespread during the winter months when the population tends to spread into deciduous forest and riparian corridors, and we may get some birds moving into our area from further north. Irruptive in some years. Many more than usual were present during the winter of 2012-2013, for example. Often first detected by its thin, high-pitched call. Usually travels in small flocks. In winter sometimes associates with other small, woodland birds such as bushtits, creepers, and chickadees. Acrobatic, like bushtits and chickadees, gleaning small insects, spiders and insect and spider eggs from branch tips. May be quite tame, allowing close approach while engaged in foraging.

Tiny. No bird we see here is smaller. About 4 inches head to tail. Male has an orange crown bordered by yellow and then black stripes (note that the central orange part of the crown may be hidden--or, it may be raised into a small, fiery crest if the bird is agitated). Female has a yellow crown similarly bordered in black (the bird pictured above is a female). Both sexes have a distinct pale eyebrow that extends from the bill to well behind the eye. Face otherwise grey, darker below the eye in males than in females, but both have a dark line through the eye. The overall effect is of a striped head. Greenish grey above, pale below. Two white wing bars, but the upper one is often attenuated. Only one may be apparent. Dark bar beneath the lower white bar, as in Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula). Wings somewhat darker overall than the rest of upper parts. Edges of secondaries in folded wing very finely edged with green.

Selected county sightings: Spring Lake (Jan 16, 2013, Colin Talcroft); Jonive Rd. (Dec 31, 2012, Colin Talcroft); Shiloh Ranch Regional Park (Dec 16, 2012, Doug Shaw); Dunes Campground, Bodega Bay (Dec 3, 2012, David & Denise Hamilton); Spring Lake (Dec 1, 2012, Colin Talcroft); Owl Canyon (Oct 4, 2012, Dea Freid); Salmon Creek Rd. (Feb 13, 2012, Dominik Mosur); Nagasawa Park (Jan 11, 2011, Doug Shaw); Shiloh Ranch Regional Park (Dec 19, 2010, Doug Shaw); LakeRalphine (Oct 21, 2010, Colin Talcroft)