Pl. XLI


The Birds · Plate XLI
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
Regulidae · Taxon 1289388
| Length | 3.5–4.3 in (9–11 cm) |
| Wingspan | 6.3–7.1 in (16–18 cm) |
| Weight | 0.2–0.3 oz (5–10 g) |
Field marks
- Tiny, compact songbird with a relatively large head and very short tail
- Olive-green to gray-green upperparts with pale underparts
- Bold white eye-ring on an otherwise plain face
- White wing bar set against a darker, blackish wing bar
- Very small, thin, straight dark bill
- Male may show a bright ruby-red crown patch when excited; it is usually concealed
HabitatTall, dense conifer forest for breeding; also uses mixed or deciduous woodland, shrubs, thickets, and other tree-and-brush cover outside the breeding season.
BehaviorRestless foliage gleaner; moves quickly through branches and shrubs, frequently flicking its wings and sometimes hovering to take small prey.
Palette
olive greengray-greenwhiteblackishruby red