October 15, 2025

Look very carefully at the top of the head of this Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula). You’ll see a red spot, which is how they get part of their common name, “ruby-crowned”. Only the male has this crown. Sometimes it is quite obvious, such as when the male is singing, interacting with another bird, agitated, excited, or performing a mating display. Other times it is not visible at all.

The major portion of their diet consists of insects and spiders. An autumn and winter resident here, they thoroughly enjoy my unkempt gardens that are filled with many spent flowers, which become seedheads, such as these Tall Goldenrods (Solidago gigantea). They use those seeds to supplement their diet during the cold of winter.

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