Kinglets

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Corthylio calendulaformerly Regulus calendula
At midmorning on 26 September 2006, a crisp early fall day, a robin sat in the birdbath beneath a crabapple in this birder’s backyard. Belly submerged, feathers fluffed, it looked squashed, vaguely like a small pumpkin that had been dropped from a second floor window. It also appeared to be in no hurry. This did not at all please a small Ruby-crowned Kinglet that also wanted a turn at the birdbath. It continually flitted from one branch overhanging the birdbath to another, flicking its wings, occasionally swooping in the direction of the robin only to swerve back into the branches. The fully exposed ruby crown patch suggested this bird’s agitation.Finally, the robin came to life, splashed its wings repeatedly, sending drops of water in all directions, and flew off.A few moments later the kinglet hopped onto the rim. Now another obstacle confronted it. The water was about an inch or so below the rim, too far for the kinglet to comfortably reach from its perch. It completely circled the birdbath, hopping along the rim, until it found what it needed: an upraised ridge on the bottom of the basin. It hopped down on the ridge, splashed contentedly, then flew up to one of the overhanging branches to preen, still showing its vivid ruby crown. Moments later, it was tumbling through the sunlit foliage in another part of the yard in pursuit of its prey.It seems miraculous that a bird of such tiny stature can produce a song so “mellow and flutelike, loud enough to be heard several hundred yards, an intricate warble past imitation or description and rendered so admirably that I never hear it without feeling an impulse to applaud,” Chapman wrote. Many an April morning, Eaton recounted, he would be awakened to this “ecstatic melody” outside his window. Though the ruby crown is not always visible, Eaton recalled coming upon one kinglet warbling like crazy “with his neck stretched up, and his flaming crest erected . . . like a flame of fire from the top of his head. He slowly made his way toward the top of a limb where a(nother) kinglet, evidently a male but younger and less vigorous, was cowering as if afraid of annihilation and yet unable to flee from its approaching antagonist.” Finally the other kinglet dropped from the limb and flew away, leaving the more aggressive bird in command of the field, and convincing Eaton that the flaming crest had “aided both the warlike attitude of the singer and his wonderful song in convincing his rival of greater superiority.” (Eaton II: 511-512)    Also distinctive is the “husky, dry jidit” or single “jit” call note. (Sibley, p. 394)
Background
For such a tiny songbird, this species labors mightily – flicking its wings continually, singing a complex song that is surprisingly loud for a bird of its size and laying up to 12 eggs in a clutch, the largest clutch size of any North America passerine for its size. It inhabits spruce-fir forests of the western states, and from Alaska across boreal Canada into New England. Its ability to use a wide range of habitats while migrating and on its wintering grounds in the southern U.S. and Mexico have allowed it to withstand most human disturbances. Interestingly, Ruby-crowned Kinglets may be more closely related to Old World leaf warblers than to Golden-crowned Kinglets, based on a variety of genetic, structural, plumage, vocal and behavioral differences. Breeding numbers fluctuate widely; this species can be affected dramatically by severe cold on its wintering grounds. (BNA 119: 1, 3, 11, 13)
Local history
Eaton (1910) considered these to be common transients in Monroe, Livingston and Wayne counties. (Eaton I: county charts)R. E. Horsey, in his listing of birds seen at Rochester and Monroe County from 1913 to 1936, indicated average spring counts of two to 10 birds, with a maximum count of 40, on dates ranging from 27 March to 4 June. In fall, average counts were one to three birds, with a maximum of 20, on dates ranging from 19 September to 3 December.When Leo Tanghe looked at sightings from 1,665 outings by Genesee Ornithological Society members from 1951-54, he found this species reported 268 times, less often than Golden-crowned (411). Most sightings were in the last half April/first three weeks of May (184 records) and last half September/first half October (51 records) with average counts of 10 to 20 during both periods. (KB 5: 69: 5A-5B)
Status
The Monroe County annotated list (1985) described this as a regular, common spring and fall transient; a casual, very rare summer visitant and an irregular, very rare winter visitant.Livingston County, Fox (1998) considered this a sporadic very rare winter visitant, a (presumably regular) fairly common spring transient, and a regular fairly common to common fall transient.
Occurrence
Spring: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 21 March (1979) to 3 May, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 5 to 18 April. In most years had departed by 25 May, with a late departure date of 4 June. One banded on 6 June 1998 (D. Bonter) at Manitou was later. (GOS, September 1998) One very late bird on 20 June 1982 (R. Childers) was at Barbutt. (GOS, August 1982)This was the species most often banded by Braddock Bird Bird Observatory at Manitou during spring banding for 1999-2006, when 3,032 were taken from the nets. (BBBO)  Spring maxima:    391 on 30 April 2006 (Shaw, Kester, Grosshans) at Durand Eastman Park. (LG, June 2006)    300+ on 2 May 1992 (Genesee Ornithological Society field trip) Durand-Eastman Park, Island Cottage Wood and points on the west lakeshore. (GOS, July/August 1992)    121 banded on 10 May 1995 (Brooks) at Manitou. (GOS, July/August 1995)       Summer: Eaton (1914) had no proof that this species nested in New York state, though he suspected it did so “occasionally” in the “cooler and damper portions of the higher Adirondacks.” (Eaton II: 511) Subsequently, this species increased dramatically as a breeder in the Adirondacks during the 20th century. “As long ago as 1923 a pair of Ruby-crowned Kinglets summered at Rochester. . . but they were thought to be ‘left over’ from spring migration,” John M. C. Peterson notes in The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State. (Andrle, p. 312) The first BBA project found possible breeding in one block in southeast Wyoming County, where observers found birds in a mature conifer stand in Letchworth SP. (Andrle, p. 312) The second project produced “probable” breeding in another block in Wayne County. The second project also found increased evidence of breeding in widely scattered locations outside the Adirondacks, including confirmed breeding as close as Cayuga County, suggesting this species is slowly, but surely, expanding its breeding range in New York.
Fall: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 14 August (1979) to 1 October, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 15 to 26 September. However, one 10 August 1976 (Perrigo) at Island Cottage was earlier. (LG, September 1976) In most years had departed by 4 November, with a late departure date of 12 November. However, pick a later date in November, and chances are one or more of these birds have been recorded. Members of a Genesee Ornithological Society field trip in October 1975 came across a group of these birds on the Charlotte Pier “so tame that they walked between people’s feet,” John Brown reported. “They may have been migrants that had just made it across the lake.” (BA, 8 October 1975) As in spring, this is one of the species most often banded in fall by Braddock Bay Bird Observatory at Manitou. During 1999-2006, a total of 4,084 were taken from the nets during fall banding, trailing only White-throated Sparrow (8,511).
Fall maxima:     500 on 4 October 1987 (D. Tetlow) at Buck Pond. (LG, November 1987)     124 banded on 5 October 2004 (BBBO) at Manitou. (LG, December 2004)     129 banded on 11 October 1996 (Brooks) at Manitou. (GOS, December 1996)    122 banded on 11 October 2004 (BBBO) at Manitou. (GOS, December 2004)    154 banded on 12 October 2007 (BBBO) at Manitou. (LG, December 2007)    200+ on 29 October 1980 (N. Henderson) west lakeshore. (GOS, December 1980)
Winter: Birds occasionally linger into winter, especially in December before the severest weather takes its toll. For example, five were at separate locations in December 1967. (KB18: 95) After that, it is much less likely in winter than Golden-crowned Kinglet. Indeed, when Leo Tanghe tallied up sightings by GOS members within a 50-mile radius of Rochester for the years 1951-1954, he found only one sighting of Ruby-Crowned Kinglet for January or February, compared to 51 for Golden-crowned. (KB5: 69: 5A-5B) That bird was at Durand-Eastman Park (Van Beurden) on 23 February 1953 during a mild winter when many half-hardy birdies overwintered, and many migrants were arriving by the last half of February. (GOS, March/April 1953)Another 2 January 1965 (Starling) was at Honeoye (GNR), and individuals wintered at Pittsford during the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons. (KB25: 96; 26: 102)Region 2 Kingbird reports mention January or early February sightings of this species in 10 of 30 years from 1976 to 2005. For example, one was found dead along the road 25 January 1983 at Oklahoma Beach. (KB33: 119) One was feeding on suet from 17-28 February 1986 (Reister) in Parma. (KB 36:91)
Misc.
Banded birds: In late April 1997, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet was captured at the Manitou banding station that had been banded the previous 17 October at Fire Island Inlet, New York. “This bird had been migrating south along the Atlantic coast during the fall and was moving north in spring following a more inland route that took it through Braddock Bay.” (LG, January 1998)

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa
“When we see the tiny gold-crowned kinglet fluttering at the tips of branches, on these zero days, as it searches around the buds for lurking insects and insect eggs, we wonder how such a tiny bit of bird life is able to withstand such low temperatures 24 hours a day, when we feel that we are freezing when we are out but a short time,” Edson wrote in January 1943. Such hardiness, he added, was to blame for misleading some of the less discerning bird enthusiasts of Rochester. Its tiny size, its tendency to flutter in midair as it foraged, led to erroneous reports of hummingbirds in midwinter! (WBR, 18 January 1943)Indeed, it is the kinglet most likely to be found here in winter.
Background
This diminutive species breeds from southern Alaska east to Newfoundland and south as far as Guatemala, primarily in remote boreal and subalpine spruce or fir forests, deciduous woodlands and pine plantations, equally accepting forests with and without understory. It has probably benefited from the reforestation of spruce in the eastern states. It has been expanding its breeding range southward into Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Birds winter as far north as Alaska; severe winter weather can cause up to 100 percent mortality in local populations. BBS data suggests populations are declining in the west, increasing in the east, with New York showing significant increases. (BNA 301: 1-3, 17)
Local history
Even in Eaton’s time (1910) these were common, even abundant in migration. He also indicated they were fairly common winter visitors in Livingston County, uncommon in Monroe and occasional in Wayne. (Eaton I: county charts)R. E. Horsey, in his listing of birds seen at Rochester and Monroe County from 1913 to 1936, indicated average counts of two to 15 birds, with a maximum count of 100, on dates ranging from 19 September to 26 May.When Leo Tanghe examined 1,665 outings by Genesee Ornithological Society members from 1951-1954, this was the kinglet most often encountered – 411 times. It was seen primarily as a migrant, with 92 reports the last three weeks of April and 180 the last half of September through November, with average tallies of 10 to 20 both periods. But it was also reported 41 times during January and the first half of February. (KB 5: 69: 5A-5B)The most significant change subsequently has been its arrival and expansion as a breeding species in our region, especially in higher elevations to the south.
Status
The Monroe County annotated list (1985) described this as a regular, common spring and fall transient; an occasional, rare summer resident and a regular, fairly common winter visitant.As for Livingston County, Fox (1998) considered this a (presumably irregular) uncommon winter visitant, a regular fairly common spring and fall transient and a (presumably regular) uncommon summer resident.
Occurrence
Spring: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 13 March to 15 April, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 26 March to 8 April. In most years had departed by 12 May, with a late departure date of 28 May. Subsequently, one banded on 4 June 1992 (McKinney) at Manitou was later. (GOS, September 1992)The high, thin “zee-zee-zee” call notes often betray the presence of these active, acrobatic little birds in spruces and pines long before the tiny troupes are visible. Of the 30 most common species banded in spring at Manitou by Braddock Bay Bird Observatory during 1999-2006, this ranked 23rd with 351 birds taken from the nets.
Spring maxima: 180 on 31 March 2005 (D. Tetlow) Braddock Bay. (LG, May 2005) 100 on 2 April 1963 (Foster, T. Tetlow) west lakeshore. (GNR) 500 on 24 April 1965 (Planansky) lakeshore. (KB 15:166)
Summer/breeding status: Prior to 1950 the New York breeding range of the Golden-crowned Kinglet was limited to the Adirondacks and Catskills, Bull (1974) observed. “Within the last two decades, however, artificial planting of Norway and white spruce in central and western New York by the State Forestry Department has created new habitat.” As a result at least 40 additional breeding locations were found due to a “considerable range extension” in central and western New York. (Bull, p. 443)That included Letchworth SP, where breeding was confirmed on 5 July 1954 “when a family of six, including four young, were found.” (B&M, p. 348) Two birds at Ossian township on 28 July 1969, in groves of mature spruce trees, prompted speculation they had likely been breeding there. “This species probably breeds in very small numbers in suitable habitat in the southern parts of both Wyoming and Livingston counties,” Howard Miller noted at the time. (KB19: 216)Fifteen at Hemlock Lake on 18 June 1976 (Perrigo) suggested a possible colony there. (KB 26:216) Another 15 were tallied by Perrigo and Mattei in the Honeoye area that July. (LG, August 1976)The first Breeding Bird Atlas project found evidence of breeding primarily in higher elevations to the south, with nesting confirmed in the evergreen plantations at Letchworth SP. So did the second project, with additional confirmations coming from Rattlesnake Hill WMA and from a cluster of blocks in and around the Little Lakes of eastern Livingston, western Ontario counties.This species’ nesting presence in the lakeplain remains scattered.

One banded on 8 July 2005 (C. and R. McKinney) at Manitou was at an “odd location” for the time of year, but “may . . . have bred nearby.” (KB 55:362-363)
Fall: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 1 September to 10 October, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 20 September to 1 October. Subsequently, one 26 August 2004 at Braddock Bay set a new record early date. (GOS, November 1996)In most years had departed by 12 December, with a late departure date of 16 December. This was the third most common species banded in fall by Braddock Bay Bird Observatory during 1999-2006, with 3,284 taken from the nets. This compares with only about one tenth that number banded during the spring those years.
Fall maxima: 80 banded on 5 October 2004 (BBBO) at Manitou. (GOS, December 2004) 150 on 10 October 1984 (R. Dobson) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS, December 1984) 98 banded on 12 October 2007 (BBBO) at Manitou. (LG, December 2007) 350 on 17 October 1975 (Perrigo) at Hamlin Beach. (LG, November 1975) Winter: Much more likely to be found here in winter than Ruby-crowned.

Other winter maxima: 10 on 20 February 1949 (Genesee Ornithological Society trip) along the lakeshore. (GNR)

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