Sunday, January 02, 2011

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

ruby crowned kinglet
On this morning's walk at Shoal Creek, I saw two tiny, flitty olive-colored birds with bright patches of red on the back of their heads, like someone had touched them with a paint-covered finger. Turns out that they were ruby-crowned kinglets, and that the red is only apparent when the males are excited. I'm not sure what had them worked up (territory?), but it brightened up my morning.
ruby crowned kinglet

2 comments:

Cat said...

Hi Amy,
I had one of these ruby-crowned kinglets in my yard about this same time. I'd never seen one before. I was inside and it landed on the windowsill. It was absolutely adorable! I love that you've captured it here forever ;)

Amy Farrier said...

Yeah, I would have totally missed these little guys if it weren't for the red patch. So cool that you saw one on your windowsill!