ruby-crowned kinglet

Mystery Bird: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

grrlscientist — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 07:59:07 +0000

Mystery Bird: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

tags: Dusky Kinglet, Ruby-crown, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Ruby-crowned Kinglet, also known as the Dusky Kinglet or as the Ruby-Crown, Regulus calendula, photographed on the Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Joseph Kennedy, 10 January 2010 [larger view].

Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/180s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

grrlscientist Mon, 04/12/2010 - 03:59

Looks like a diminutive member of royalty who seldom shows his crown-this one sports a particularly gnarly set of slippers.

Got it, but I don't want to let the cat out of the bag. Fieldmarks include almond-shaped white eyering broken at the top, black primary and secondary bases, greenish remix edgings, tiny bill. But...what the heck's it doing on the ground?

The teeny-weeny bill on a tubby-chubby body is also a giveaway! My goodness they are adorable. They're like vireos but without full spectacles.

Question - are the yellow booties specific to this species, to the little napoleons in general?

The combination of the "booties" and the lack of bold facial stripes identifies the species. January 24, 41 AD marked this.

carel, Even tho this bird has the "little boots" that would make you think of an king (or at least a little one), I think it's not so much the 24th of that month, but the first of any month (at least if you are Roman) or a sort of Marigold.

Jana -- the yellow feet are characteristic of both species of this group here in the states. (Quite useful, anywhere Hutton's Vireo is a possibility -- they have dark feet.) I don't have a reference for the old-world members of the family.

Hmm, from the Napoleon comment, I was going to go with Emperor Penguin. But somehow, the beak is just a tad small, I think. And the posture doesn't quite work.

The body, beak, and most coloring looks like a Ruby Crowned Kinglet to me. The white partial eye-ring and the white bar on the wing, along with the color seem right. When I looked on the web earlier, the feet didn't look right, but looking at home in Sibley's, they look pretty yellow in contrast to the darker legs.

Femal or juvenile? Or would a male without the crown raised have a crown that didn't look at all crownish?

So cute, it'll make your head explode.

Bardiac -- this could be an adult male -- they only show the red when they erect the feathers.

Pete Moulton: the most remarkable thing about this image (i thought) was that this bird was on the ground .. i've never seen that, so of course, i had to add this image to my mystery bird portfolio.

Mystery Bird: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

grrlscientist — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:59:11 +0000

Mystery Bird: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

tags: Dusky Kinglet, Ruby-Crown, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Ruby-crowned Kinglet, also known as the Dusky Kinglet and the Ruby-Crown, Regulus calendula, photographed on the Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Joseph Kennedy, 10 January 2010 [larger view].

Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/250s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

grrlscientist Tue, 03/02/2010 - 03:59

Heh. Can't get enough of this guy. I like how our favorite characteristic field mark is well-displayed.

The genus name has a scientific -- but non-ornithological -- association with the Arabic Qalb[u] Al-Â´asad - "heart of the lion". The specific epithet calls to my mind, at least, an association with one of the (ahem) great names of Scottish heraldry.

hmmm, John, sounds to me like Leo's brightest star but I'm not sure if, of the two possibilities, you also refer to the lordship of Lorne and of Somerled who was killed fighting the King of the Scots around 1160 or some Persian governor; warrior gules or generous or?

That's an extremely worn and scruffy tennis ball. I've no idea if it ever hit a bird, but it's certainly been hit a lot.

I love, David, how no matter how silly and lowbrow I go with my attempt to play the obscure-references-to-scientific-names game, you always find some much more obscure (and much more interesting) possible interpretation.

The reality, though, is that I'm not that clever. In this case, the big hint is my choice of emphasis.

LOL John, then I assume you reference the seat at Perthshire and therefore, funnily enough, both the warrior gules (red) and the generous or (gold) would in fact be appropriate- the former being the commmon name of the bird you see, and the latter the primary heraldic color of your own family's Coat of Arms...!

In which case, as this is in Texas, either the subspecies named after Joseph Grinnell or the nominate first day of the month...

I first thought this was a goldfinch but I don't see the black and white of the wings and tail.

Some help here David or John- I get that the genus must be Regulus (Qalb Al Asad and from the constellation Leo) but all the Scottish ancestry and heraldry has me confused!

David suggested two possibilities so this must either be a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) or a Gold-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) but from the back they both appear very similar.

Well now that I'm home, I think John got this straight up...

Kim, I think you make a good point- how to tell the difference between the two kinglets from behind... in this case I would expect the olive color of the back, the white wingbars, and the yellow edging on the primaries to be present in both species, but the Golden-crowned has an obvious gray nape, enough of which should have shown here on this shot, and I think we might have expected just a hint of the white supercilium (eyebrow) on that left side... in addition, the underparts, being more buffy-olive as opposed to grayish-white, also tend to Ruby-crowned

And yes, Regulus is both the genus and also the brightest "star" (actually two pairs of stars) in the constellation Leo... the Scottish heraldic stuff I blame entirely on Mr. Callender, traditionally a Scottish barony in Perthshire, the Callender family's coat of arms is colored sable (black) and or (gold), but I think John was being somewhat homophonic (please note the spelling on that!) likening Callender to the specific epithet for the Ruby-crowned, calendula (which name is argued to be based upon the Calends, the first day of the Roman month)...

my reference to a Persian governor hearkened to "satrap", after which the other kinglet satrapa is named...

any other adumbration or obfuscation I lay at John's door- I admit nothing and deny everything

I have to admit that my first thought was that this bird was too colorful for a Ruby-crowned. I think of them as fairly evenly olive. However, after reading everyone's comments, I went back and checked the two again. According to Sibley's, it looks like there may be another mark for distinguishing the two species. In Golden-crowned, it appears that the primary coverts (the little triangle at the front of the wings, just below the lower wing bar) are dark, while in Ruby-crowned, they're edged with yellow. The net effect of this is the the Golden-crowned has two dark patches on the wing, at about the same level, but separated by pale edges on the outer secondaries. The Ruby-crowned has the one dark patch, and that's it.

Now for the caveats -- first, I can only find this in Sibley's, and some hints in some old photos I have. I definitely want to see some more sources before I would consider this trustworthy. Second, feather edgings tend to wear off (of course). I have some photos of Ruby's in June that appear to show dark primary coverts, so if this mark works, it should only be used in fairly fresh plumage.

Paul, I thought I noticed a little difference but couldn't be as exact as you- let me spend some time this evening (when I can actually access photos) trying to find some exemplars that might help- as for the coloring, the lack of contrast between upper and lower seemed to indicate Ruby, not the discrete color of each "half"...

hmmm...

Ruby-crowned Kinglet profile

Golden-crowned Kinglet profile

Paul, I think what I'm seeing is that both species have that "black triangle" but in the Golden-crowned, those coverts are stacked tighter giving the impression of a more defined shape...

Ruby-crowned Kinglet profile 2

Golden-crowned Kinglet profile 2

Paul, to confirm my suspicion, I think I see a definite relative shortness in the primary wing coverts in the Golden-crowned versus the Ruby-crowned which would give that impression of neater stacking... take a comparative look at these great photo collections for each species from the McGill Bird Observatory, especially "after second year" and "second year" males:

Ruby-crowned Kinglet photo library

Golden-crowned Kinglet photo library

after all is said and done, I see a Ruby-crowned above

Couple of notes:

First, I should have been a bit clearer in my earlier post. Stating that I had considered the bird to be a Golden-crowned was meant to imply that you guys had changed my mind. Which you did.

Second -- thanks for the links, David. Looking at those libraries convinced me that Sibley's must have been looking at birds at two different points in the year. I suppose that there could be some differences in the width of the edging and therefore the speed at which they wear, but using that would demand an incredible amount of local knowledge, as well as extremely good looks. And let's face it -- outside of photographs like this, getting that sort of a look at a bird without being able to see it's face would be virtually impossible.

omg i love the ruby crowned kinglet!!!!

Mystery Bird: Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

grrlscientist — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:59:47 +0000

Mystery Bird: Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

tags: Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, photographed on the Katy Prairie, Houston, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Joseph Kennedy, 1 January 2010 [larger view].

Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/400s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

grrlscientist Mon, 02/01/2010 - 03:59

I will go with Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)- a small, greenish passerine with a thin bill, white wing bars and yellowish margins to the primaries and secondaries.

If this were a GCKI, we would see some colour in the crown and a white brow.

I will go with Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)- a small, greenish passerine with a thin bill, white wing bars and yellowish margins to the primaries and secondaries.

If this were a GCKI, we would see some colour in the crown and a white brow.

Michael, I can't see the photo just yet, but if this is a Ruby-crowned I would also be looking for a whie eyering (and a lack of a black smudge through the eye) which would also eliminate the Golden-crowned...

Actually, David, when you see the photo you'll see why Michael didn't mention the eyering. On the other hand, Michael, there is another field mark visible that can be used to rule out anything similar (There are two species of vireo that occur in this area in the winter). Look closely at the wing -- this mark is a bit subtle, but very useful when you know what to look for. At the base of the primaries there are several feathers that show black edges instead of yellow. The only bird I know of that shows this is RC Kinglet.

Good call, though.

Thanks Paul- and I'll note that "sweet" little tip in my field guide!

A fig that isn't ripe yet. However, the leaves don't look right.

Without seeing the face of the bird, it looks like a female Cerulean Warbler. The head and body color look right and there is a distinctive black and white striping in the wing.

Ooops... I went back and checked Sibley's. I thought I picked that up from some guide -- and sure enough, it's in there. Unfortunately (for my ego, at least) the black bar referred to is on the secondaries (so, the part of the folded wing closer to the back), and it also occurs on GC Kinglets. I've never noticed it on them, probably because there's so many other marks on Goldens. So, I checked what photos I have, and sure enough, Golden's have it too.

Emily, Cerulean Warbler is an interesting thought. The date is a strike against it, but weird things do happen. On the other hand, any Warbler wouldn't show the dark bar across the secondaries, and I would expect a Cerulean to show some yellow on the breast in it's first winter, and some streaking on the flanks when older. This bird shows neither. I would also expect that with this angle, you might see a bit of the supercilium, but I don't spend much time looking at birds from this angle (especially Ceruleans -- you'd need to be able to fly, most of the time), so I could easily be wrong about the supercilium.

OK, home now...

I think Paul must have been referring to the Red-eyed Vireo and also the Warbling Vireo (the very similar Hutton's Vireo is out of range, just reaching western Texas), both of which have similar olive coloring above with a gray wash towards the head and lighter underparts but both of which I would eliminate because neither would have the white wingbar (the Hutton would show two anyway, and not one)...

while enough of the head is visible that would probably show some of the crest, especially the black steaks, I would also eliminate the Golden-crowned Kinglet because I would expect to see a distinct gray nape contrasting with the olive back...

Emily, although the female Cerulean Warbler is more green than the male, I would expect to see more of a blue-green to the upperparts, none of the yellow edging I see in the primaries, some streaking along the sides of the breast, but more definitive for me, she would show two white wingbars instead of one...

also within range and somewhat similar with the olive upperparts and olive-gray head is the Orange-crowned Warbler, but this too would be eliminated because it does not have a wingbar at all...

therefore I think Michael has it spot on: a Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Actually, David, I was thinking of White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, both of which winter along the coast, and both of which have wing bars. The one vs. two wing bars is a bit misleading. The upper one is on the medial secondary coverts, and can be covered by scapulars at times. It does seem that kinglets have 'extra-fluffy' body feathers, and therefore show the upper bar less often, but it is there (and just visible on the photo). Actually, checking photos, it may be a bit thinner than on vireos, and more likely to wear completely off as well.

Thanks Paul, I see the hint of a second wingbar now in my Sibley but it's not specifically mentioned as a "second" wingbar, and Patuxent and Cornell simply say "wingbars" which I read as one on each side!

One thing I also noticed about the black patches on the secondaries of the kinglets is that there is one on the Ruby but two on the Golden, more noticeable in flight where the second appears forward of the main white wingbar when the wings are extended.

Paul I see what you mean with the White-eyed Vireo and the Blue-headed Vireo... I guess other than the darher head of the Blue-headed, I would be looking for each to show a little more yellow on the flanks, but it's really hard to make out the differences in wing colors and patterning as compared to the angle of the shot in our photo above, but having now compared it to a profile view of a Ruby, I can see the differences... just...!

at first glance I thought Ruby-crowned Kinglet, the white stripe on the scapulars did it for me.

Yay! Katy Prairie Conservancy! I did my eagle project there helping build maintenance bridges for the wetlands project there. =D

Mystery Bird: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

grrlscientist — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:59:34 +0000

Mystery Bird: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

tags: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Dusky Kinglet, Ruby-Crown, Regulus calendula, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Ruby-crowned Kinglet, also known as the Dusky Kinglet or as the Ruby-Crown, Regulus calendula, photographed at Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Joseph Kennedy, 27 December 2009 [larger view].

Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

grrlscientist Fri, 01/01/2010 - 03:59

I think that's a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I'm going by the chunky proportions, the warbler beak, and what's visible of the plumage, especially that dark band on the wing that's distal to the wingbar, where the pale edging on the secondaries goes away, a field mark I learned about here with a previous Mystery Bird.

Happy New Year!

I think you're right John, although the yellow-greenness of it's plumage was not as olive or as grey as I have seen before and initially had me thinking something like an Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata), but the black bill (the Orange-crowned has a light bill), wingbar, certainly the hint of a black "smudge" below the wingbar, black legs with more yellowish feet, and short tail all seem to point to that "little king of marigolds".

The Golden-crowned (Regulus satrapa) is similar but would have had whiter underparts, darker wings, and a differing wingbar pattern; luckily the Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni) appears to be out of range and I think would also have shown more whitish underparts, especially tail coverts, and all-black feet...

so John has an "aye"!

Although there are only three subspecies recorded- this could be grinelli or the nominate calendula (obscurus is only found in Guadalupe Island off the coast of Mexican Baja California), several "races" such as cineraceus (California) and arizonensis (Arizona) have been proposed and would suggest enough variability to explain the coloring of the individual above.

Mystery Bird: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

grrlscientist — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:59:59 +0000

Mystery Bird: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

tags: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Richard Ditch, 2006 [larger view].

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:

Now comes a tiny bird, barley bigger than the leaves of the desert hackberry it's perched among. The gray plumage, hint of a wingbar, and conspicuous but broken eyering are characteristic of two common birds of the American southwest: Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Hutton's Vireo. An earlier analysis pointed out the obvious differences in wing pattern, but that won't help us here; all we can see is that the median coverts are boldly tipped white, a feature that by itself might make me think of the vireo. The fact that the bill is open makes its depth hard to judge, though the tip of the upper mandible appears fine, not hooked, which makes me think of the kinglet.

A view like this, though it obscures some of the classic field marks that distinguish those two surprisingly similar species, provides the perfect opportunity to deploy a different, lesser-known character. The tarsus of kinglets (like that of thrushes and a few other passerine groups) is "booted," nearly the entire length of the foot covered by a single scale rather than the shingled-roof pattern of most passerines -- including vireos. As a result, the grayish tarsus of Hutton's Vireo appears stout and strong, while the paler tarsus of Ruby-crowned Kinglet seems impossibly slender, vanishingly thin -- just as on the kinglet in our mystery photo.

Review all mystery birds to date.

grrlscientist Mon, 12/08/2008 - 03:59

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

grrlscientist — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:59:59 +0000

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

tags: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, birds, Kansas, image of the day

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, with insect egg or pupa in beak

Image: Dave Rintoul, KSU [larger view].

grrlscientist Fri, 05/16/2008 - 08:59

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

grrlscientist — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:59:59 +0000

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

tags: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula, birds, Image of the Day

A friend who is a professor of Biology at KSU sent me a bunch of lovely images of sparrows along with this non-sparrow, that he took recently while birding. These images are scheduled to appear daily at 3 pm from 6 November through 16 November.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula.

Image: Dave Rintoul, KSU. [larger size].

grrlscientist Tue, 11/13/2007 - 08:59