Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
Golden-crowned kinglets are one of BC’s tiniest species of songbird. They are identifiable by their bold black eyebrow and bright yellow crown. This species is one of the two kinglet species we have in North America, both of which are present in this area. The other species is the ruby-crowned kinglet which can be differentiated from golden-crowned kinglets by a white eye-ring and bright red crown that is occasionally visible on males. Kinglets are very active, quick-moving birds that can often be found high up in dense forests. Kinglets eat mostly insects, which they glean from branches.
Golden-crowned kinglets are native to BC and have widespread breeding activity across the province. Nesting is associated with a variety of forest types including Douglas-fir, hemlock, spruce, and subalpine fir. Golden-crowned kinglets have a preference for dense old growth or advanced second growth forests.
There are no major conservation issues associated with golden-crowned kinglets as populations seem relatively secure. However, there have been slight population declines in western portions of their range. This may be associated with habitat disturbance from the logging industry’s impact on the golden-crowned kinglets’t preferred habitat: coniferous old growth forest.
For more information, visit the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas, the BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer, and All About Birds by the Cornell Lab.