Golden-crowned Kinglet
I am sitting here at my desk in our workroom which is on the second floor of our house. My desk is right at the double windows which overlook the backyard and bird feeders. Our yard is somewhat of a savanna. It has full grown oaks, hickories, cherries, and sassafras. The tree closest to my windows is a big pin oak. As I was looking out the window a few moments ago, right at eye level – and upside-down! – was a small, but very chubby, Golden-crowned Kinglet. I watched for several minutes as it was all over the branches and twigs that are only only about 10 feet away – totally unaware I was right there watching. This is such an active bird! What a wonderful experience! Except at these windows, it is not often I am at eye-level with birds that are up in trees.
All of us living in the lower 48 states can see this small kinglet in winter. If you are out walking and you are within big trees – either deciduous or conifer – look and listen for them. They can be in flocks by themselves or in small, loose flocks with warblers, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. And they will call to each other constantly even on the coldest winter days. You can listen to these calls on allaboutbirds.org. Watching and listening to any of these small birds on a cold winter day is simply an uplifting experience! They will make you grin every time!