Eight Shots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets

By Corey • October 19, 2008 • 8 comments

Yesterday I took a long walk across several parks in Queens looking for birds. And while many species crossed my path, none were as endearing nor as energetic as the numerous Ruby-crowned Kinglets (Regulus calendula) that seemed to be everywhere. Not only were they everywhere but they were fearless as well! Several times one would perch or forage within inches and a couple of times one hovered in front of my face as if it were going to hoverglean from my nose! After getting home and uploading the more than one hundred pictures that I took I was rather surprised to find out that I did not get a single shot that gave any hint of their namesake ruby crown. Nonetheless, I was pleased with the results I got photographing the four-and-a-quarter inch birds, and I hope you are too…

This post has been submitted to Bird Photography Weekly #8. Go check it out!

• Tags: Birds, features, kinglets, queens

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About the Author

Corey

Corey is a lifelong upstate New Yorker who recently took the plunge and moved to the city. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list and broke the magical 300 barrier in New York State in 2007 by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative. He lives near Forest Park in Queens with Daisy and their two indoor cats, Hunter and B.B.

8 Responses to “Eight Shots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets”

Pete Scholtens Oct 19th, 2008 at 6:41 am

We were banding these birds yesterday (see http://ruthvenpark.ca/natureblog/) and I thought you might be interested to know that they also weigh in at less than 10 g per bird.
Klaus Oct 19th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

Awesome shots, did they scratch your lens by being that close?
Cheers, Klaus
Corey Oct 20th, 2008 at 7:05 am

@Pete: They are tiny, aren’t they?

@Klaus: Thanks…and, no, they didn’t scratch my lens, but not for lack of trying!
Arija Oct 21st, 2008 at 7:00 am

Wow, you can count each fluffy feather.
The one with semi spread wings is just an incredible shot with great light and colour.
Larry Oct 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 am

Wow Corey, great captures of the highly energetic, never stopping, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. One of my all time favorite birds! I am still waiting to see my first little guy this fall but I know they’re on their way. Better chances of seeing that beautiful red crown in the spring during mating. My friend Doug Greenberg got a good shot of that illusive ruby crown that I posted last Christmas Day (at http://www.thebirdersreport.com/wild-birds/bird-sightings/the-ruby-crowned-kinglet-never-sits-still )

Thanks for sharing your super close ups! I love the 5th one with the super feather detail. Just amazing!
sara Oct 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 am

Great! These little guys eluded me for a while when I saw them around on campus (i.e. UC, San Diego). I thought that they were some vireos until I asked an experienced birder.
Big City, Bright Lights « Round Robin Oct 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 am

[...] of 10,000 birds has some incredible photos of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. And I don’t just mean good. I mean [...]
The Zen Birdfeeder Nov 5th, 2008 at 10:23 pm

Great shots!