Adult male Ruby-crowned Kinglet showing his crown – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
According to the American Ornithological Society’s North and Middle American Classification Committee the genus for the Ruby-crowned Kinglet may change from Regulus to the resurrected Corthylio later this year. Or maybe it won’t. At this point I can’t be sure.
Will the differences in their mtDNA, feet, and vocalizations be enough to assign these kinglets to a new genus? We will find out later in 2021.
What I do know for sure is that I adore seeing, hearing, and photographing Ruby-crowned Kinglets anytime I am blessed to have one in my viewfinder. These flitty, tiny birds are a challenge to take images of because they move so fast and hardly ever stay still. When I see Ruby-crowned Kinglets in the mountains, forests, and thickets in northern Utah there are times that I don’t have a chance to raise my lens before they disappear.
When I photographed this male Ruby-crowned Kinglet a few years ago he was foraging in a sumac close to the edge of road in Box Elder County. These itty-bitty birds always make me smile whether I take photos of them or not.
It won’t matter to me or most of you if Ruby-crowned Kinglets are assigned a genus of their own but I do try to stay aware of the changes the AOS makes. It is simply a small part of loving birds and being passionate about them.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Ruby-crowned Kinglet photos plus facts and information about this species.
I saw my first ruby crowned kinglet in the NYC suburbs in the Spring of 2020. He was in a tiny flock of about 15 that flitted in and out of the shrubbery. Got a small view of the ruby patch, but identified him by his song. Beautiful little birds.
Perfect. All of it. Color, composition and the detail…all perfect. Thanks Mia
I always get excited at the possibility of new genera! Interesting that this change has been advocated for over 100 years (went down the rabbit hole and found a 1915 article). Whatever its scientific name, this Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a handsome example of its species!
I love these birds! As you know my goal for a few weeks was to get a photo with their namesake crest up. I did not! I have not seen them this week in my yard so I took my Captain Ahab off my Facebook profile image.
WHAT a beauty. Thank you.
Delightful little bird. Your photo collection and information is excellent. i have seen them here in south Florida only once over the 16 years we have lived here. Once in Illinois I had two males in a confrontation, both with the red crowns fully deployed. Suffice it to say that by the time I got my camera on them they were back to their plain old selves.
Oh, lovely photo, Mia. And thanks for the scientific info – always of interest for me.
Nice! These are an early migrant for us arriving in April. I see your picture and
hear their beautiful song.
A cool photo, Mia
Gorgeous & you got his ruby crown too.