Golden-crowned Kinglets (Regulus satrapa) are tiny, migratory songbirds in the kinglet family (Regulidae), a small bird family with only 2 genera, distributed across the Holarctic – Europe, Asia, and North America. Though small, it is a remarkably hardy species, enduring colder climates than many songbirds. The Golden-crowned Kinglet is one of 5 species of Regulus Kinglets, breeding throughout the coniferous and mixed forests throughout much of Canada and the northern United States, extending southward along the Appalachians and Rocky Mountains. In the winter, it occurs in southern Canada and much of the United States, including many areas where winter snow cover is common, such as the southern Great Lakes Region, spending much of their time foraging in the forest understory. The Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) occupies a similar niche in the boreal forests of Eurasia, while the Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) is found throughout much of Europe. The other two species are restricted to the Madeira archipelago off the coast of Iberia, and Taiwan. The only other species of Kinglet is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula), another species breeding in the boreal forests of Canada, migrating to the southern United States and Mexico for the winter, often viewed in the Great Lakes Region during both migration seasons.
Among the smallest of all songbirds in North America, the Golden-crowned Kinglet is recognizable by its distinctive head pattern—a bold black-and-white face with a brilliant yellow crown, often bordered with orange in males. Beneath is a black eyebrow, and the face has a grey eyeline. Golden-crowned Kinglets have a grey belly, while having a mix of black and yellow on the wings.
While primarily associated with conifers such as spruce (Picea sp.), fir (Abies sp.), hemlock (Tsuga sp.), and pine (Pinus sp.), Golden-crowned Kinglets are also found in mixed forests, especially in the southerly portions of their breeding range (the northern Great Lakes Region). Kinglets are most active in the mid to upper canopy, flitting quickly through foliage in search of small insect prey. Their high-pitched, thin calls—often described by the mnemonics “tsee-tsee-tsee” or “see-see-see”—can be easily overlooked by human ears, but are a common feature of their behaviour when attracting a mate, defending a breeding territory, or foraging.
Golden-crowned Kinglets usually breed in coniferous forests, where they construct small woven nests suspended from conifer branches, often 5–25 meters above the ground. The nest, built almost entirely by the female, is made from moss, lichens, bark strips, feathers, and spider silk, forming a deep cup. A typical clutch consists of around 8 eggs, each white and speckled with reddish-brown markings. Incubation, mostly performed by the female, lasts around 14–15 days. After hatching, both parents feed and care for the chicks. Fledging occurs after about 16–19 days. They raise 1-2 broods each summer.
Similarly to other small songbird species, such as Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), Golden-crowned Kinglets survive the harsh northern winters by maintaining high metabolic rates, feeding almost constantly, and roosting communally for warmth. Kinglets are insectivorous, feeding primarily on small arthopods, including springtails (Collembola), bark beetles (Scolytinae), aphids (Aphididae), tiny caterpillars (Lepidoptera), and spiders (Aranae), which they glean from needles and twigs. In colder months, they may supplement their diet with insect eggs, larvae, and pupae, occasionally taking small seeds or visiting suet feeders, though less frequently than larger songbirds such as Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus), and Nuthatches (Sitta caroliniensis)
In winter, Golden-crowned Kinglets often join mixed-species foraging flocks, commonly associating with chickadees, nuthatches (Sitta sp.), and creepers (Certhia americana), which may help reduce predation risk and improve foraging efficiency.
The population of Golden-crowned Kinglets is considered stable and widespread. The North American breeding population is estimated at over 90 million individuals, with the highest densities found in mature boreal forests. In the Long Point Basin, they are most common in the winter, where they are observed foraging for food low in the forest understory, often in small, spreading shrubs.
Written by Matthew Palarchio, HBSc in Environmental Sciences, Western University
All photos are Stock photos retrieved from Canva
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