Kinglets – Times Two | Photos by Donna

Kinglets – Times Two

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We have two species of Kinglets in North America. the Ruby-crowned and the Golden-crowned. I’ve fortunately had both recently visiting my backyard foraging the evergreens, so how cool to share them together in one post for comparisons.

I’ve photographed the Ruby-crowned Kinglet several times in years prior, so I’ll start with the Golden-crowned. It’s more befitting for another reason too….

Welcome to my bird lifer list #245 Golden-crowned Kinglet! 🤗

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Golden-crowned Kinglet

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Above was my first photo taken, definitely blurry; but as I was taking that shot, I saw that yellow crest and knew I had to stay with this bird if I could. It took 16 more shots to get the next two.

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Golden-crowned Kinglet (lifer #245)

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I could not believe it flew to the evergreen closest to me!

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Golden-crowned Kinglet

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The Ruby-crowned Kinglets have been around for several weeks, so I’ve had many more opportunities with them to share some pretty compositions.

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet (my favorite shot ever!)

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

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Whereas both male and female Golden-crowned Kinglets have a yellow crest and display it at all times, only the male Ruby-crowned has the red crest and only displays it when he is excitedly courting a mate, or challenging a competitor or predator.

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

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No luck with me catching the rare opportunity of a Ruby-crown’s red crest; but that could be a good thing, they feel safe and comfortable in my backyard for the time being. Or maybe there isn’t a male in my visitors. 😏

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Tags: bird, birding, birdwatching, Chesapeake Bay, Eastern Shore, images, Maryland, nature, photographs, photography, photos, Rock Hall, Ruby-crowned kinglet, wildlife

45 thoughts on “Kinglets – Times Two”

aussiebirder on 10/18/2021 at 5:38 PM said:

A beautiful little bird Donna,love the tail pattern, it must be a fast mover offering a challenge to capture. congrats on your lifer, I also feel a sense of your delight when you announce another lifer, love your passion for your/our birds, that is something we both share.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:09 AM said:
  
  Thank you very much, Ashley! Birds are a beautiful gift bestowed upon us. I am very thankful for them, as I know you are too!
  
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denisebushphoto on 10/18/2021 at 5:46 PM said:

Super cute! Awesome captures Donna.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:09 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Denise!
  
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circadianreflections on 10/18/2021 at 6:11 PM said:

Those are wonderful images of them both, Donna! I’ve only seen the Ruby Crowned.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:18 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Deborah! Keep an eye out for the Golden-crowned, it should be around you in the fall/winter also. 🙂
  
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  - circadianreflections on 10/20/2021 at 9:09 AM said:
    
    I’ll have to look up their range for sure now!! 😍
    
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Reed Andariese on 10/18/2021 at 6:45 PM said:

Very nice images! Congrats on #245!!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:18 AM said:
  
  Thank you very much, Reed!! 💃
  
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Gunta on 10/18/2021 at 7:27 PM said:

Yay to #245! We’ve definitely caught the ruby-crowned quite a bit (year round residents?) Images with the ruby crown in evidence. I can’t keep up with the teeny birds, but I’m sure that the golden-crowned would have been mentioned if one had been seen. You’ve caught some amazing shots of these very active little ones who seem to like flitting in and out of the foliage. Super skill and patience definitely required. Good job!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:21 AM said:
  
  Thank you very much, Gunta! Awesome on capturing the red crest!! I could see some RC Kinglets flitting this morning in my trees; and I tried to capture them, but they were too busy to oblige. 😉
  
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Tofino Photography on 10/18/2021 at 7:50 PM said:

Cute little guys! Great shots Donna!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:22 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Wayne!
  
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susanhale828gmailcom on 10/18/2021 at 8:17 PM said:

How wonderful that you were able to capture these in your back yard. They are lovely! Thanks for sharing.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:23 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Susan! I would have never guessed I’d see these in my backyard! 🙂
  
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Eliza Waters on 10/18/2021 at 8:53 PM said:

Congrats on yet another Lifer, Donna! I saw my first ruby-crowned kinglet last year as it foraged for insects in my sedum flowers. Such a diminutive bird, I wondered what it was, and because it was below me while I was looking out a window, I saw its crown and was thrilled to be able to ID it. It was so cute!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:25 AM said:
  
  Thank you very much, Eliza! Awesome to get to see the red crest! I’ve seen it once in South Carolina, but have yet to capture it. Some day hopefully! 😉
  
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lisaonthebeach on 10/18/2021 at 10:47 PM said:

Beautiful photos Donna! …is it just me? At first glance photos 2 and 3 appear as an optical illusion. I had to zoom in to understand. The lines on the head and the yellow feathers threw me off!
That little guy, he’s so cute❣❣

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:28 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Lisa! lol I take ’em as I see ’em when lifers! 😉 The GC is described as looking ‘dirty’ which it sure does. These tiny birds definitely cuties!
  
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mic on 10/18/2021 at 11:48 PM said:

👌👌👌📷🌹

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:28 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Mic!
  
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bridge2nature on 10/19/2021 at 1:14 AM said:

Beautiful birds and great photo.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:29 AM said:
  
  Thank you very much!
  
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picpholio on 10/19/2021 at 3:06 AM said:

It is not easy to photograph these types of small birds among the foliage.
That’s why I think your most favorite photo of all times is very successful.
Regards,
Rudi

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 8:30 AM said:
  
  Thank you so much, Rudi! I love filling a folder of a bird species with new shots, especially when I can top my last best shot with a new one! 😉
  
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Barbara Rodgers on 10/19/2021 at 11:59 AM said:

Congratulations on lifer #245, Donna!!! It has such lovely patterns and coloring. How nice of it to fly to the closest evergreen. 😊 And I can see why that shot of the Ruby-crowned is your favorite, it’s adorable. It must be fun to watch flitting about.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 7:09 PM said:
  
  Thank you very much, Barbara!! 💃 It seems the Golden-crown has flown the coop, hehe, but I’m still seeing the Ruby-crowns, they are so tiny and move fast. I love the challenge!
  
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Ellen Jennings on 10/19/2021 at 12:20 PM said:

Nice shots of these speedy fellows and congrats on #245!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 7:10 PM said:
  
  Thank you very much, Ellen! 💃
  
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The girl with camera 📸 on 10/19/2021 at 1:55 PM said:

I cant resist myself from saying ‘Aw’ Such cute and mesmerizing clicks!! Loved the bird!! Beautiful!!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 7:11 PM said:
  
  Thank you so kindly! I’m a big ‘awwwww’ person too, can’t help myself. Especially over baby birds and wildlife! 😊
  
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  - The girl with camera 📸 on 10/19/2021 at 9:38 PM said:
    
    Same here!!
    
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creatingmindblog on 10/19/2021 at 6:38 PM said:

These are such cute photos! The first photo of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet is superb. Super crisp! Love it!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 7:35 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Simon! That first RCK shot is definitely my best ever. And then the back shot, it was like asking me to make sure I got that too! 😅 They’ve been visiting the trees right by my deck, what a delight!
  
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The Hinoeuma on 10/19/2021 at 9:20 PM said:

So cute. I love the golden mohawk.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/19/2021 at 9:33 PM said:
  
  Thanks, Vic! When I saw that gold crown, I really got excited, lol. Cute!
  
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  - The Hinoeuma on 10/19/2021 at 9:41 PM said:
    
    Have you ever captured shots of owls?
    
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    - bayphotosbydonna on 10/20/2021 at 7:55 AM said:
      
      Here you go!
      https://bayphotosbydonna.com/category/owls/
      
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      - The Hinoeuma on 10/20/2021 at 8:13 PM said:
        
        Ok. I feel stupid. I liked your last three…and completely forgot. *facepalm*
        
        Liking the others.
        
        I saw the “Oliver & Olivia”, too, thinking of Bella & Beau. LOL! Did not know that GHO were enemies of Osprey. Wow.
      - bayphotosbydonna on 10/20/2021 at 9:07 PM said:
        
        No worries! I knew I had owls, but I had to go look to see what I had too! hehe
        
        Yes, Oliver and Olivia were my first Osprey pair I monitored for two years around Kent Island, several years prior to Bella and Beau who summered in Cambridge. Oliver and Olivia got me started with birding!
      - The Hinoeuma on 10/20/2021 at 9:47 PM said:
        
        How cool! And, I saw your list of camera equipment. Goodness! National Geographic, I’m tellin’ ya’. You are a stunning photographer. I am a mere child in comparison with my stupidphone. LOL!
      - bayphotosbydonna on 10/21/2021 at 8:48 PM said:
        
        Awww, you are so sweet, Vic! But, truly, we each have an eye for something, and it really is all about having fun with photography and subjects!
      - The Hinoeuma on 10/22/2021 at 3:58 PM said:
        
        So true!
Martha Johnston on 10/25/2021 at 8:53 AM said:

Such adorable birds — right down to their little stripey flight and tail feathers.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/26/2021 at 8:50 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Martha! Two evenings ago, the Golden-crowns were all over my trees again! It was exciting, I did get a couple shots, one that sported the red in the gold crown. 🙂
  
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