Timid Little Kings

Birds of Nantucket
by Kenneth Turner Blackshaw

The song starts out with a high-pitched, repetitive note, so high you are not sure you are really hearing it. Then it descends to a rich warble with staccato bursts. You almost feel your heart begin to race to keep up with it. The song is coming from low in a tangle at the edge of the state forest and is being sung by the star of this week’s column.

This is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, one of our tiniest birds, barely over four inches from beak to tail and weighing in at just a quarter of an ounce. These birds will be around our island for the next month, and are even considered common in October, but they are seldom seen. What’s the story here?

The name “kinglet” means “little king.” Just as an aside, this made me think of the wonderful comic strip written by Otto Soglow from over 30 years ago. Perhaps some of you remember that silent, squat, red-robed little monarch.

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet’s Latin name is Regulus calendula, for “glowing” little king. Sounds like he would be hard to miss! But alas, like so many of us, he hides his light under a bushel, in this case, his olive head feathers.

If you look in the bird book, you see a myopic-looking grayish bird with two white wingbars. Most books show a brilliant red patch atop the head, but I must confess, I birded for 20 years before I was rewarded with this sight.

But they are charming, very nervous little birds. I say nervous because they have a habit of flicking their wings almost once a second. It’s like they are always ready to fly off but then decide not to at the last moment. Thinking that they are timid souls brings forth yet another comic strip – anyone remember Webster’s Caspar Milquetoast, the original timid soul? Now try and morph him into the Little King!

But I digress – meanwhile back in the forest, we are still talking about kinglets. When they are around evergreens, you often see them hovering, hummingbird style, at the end of a branch.

These birds are fascinating and entertaining to watch, but you are unlikely to see them unless you go on a bird walk. I’ve never seen one on a feeder. Their diet is 94 percent insects although they do eat some fruit in the winter. When I say fruit, I mean wax myrtle, poison ivy and red cedar berries, not what you typically find on your breakfast cereal (I hope).

Well with a diet like that, winter on Nantucket sounds like an ideal place! They do hang around to be counted on most Christmas Bird Counts. They’ve been seen on the last 14 of them, with as many as 11 birds being found, but most Ruby-crowns head further south. In Florida, they are common winter residents, but again, usually not seen except by birders.

Nantucket is just a passing fancy for these little charmers, both going north and south. By the end of May they will all be headed to their nesting grounds, mainly in Canada, although a few nest as close as the Berkshires in northwestern Massachusetts.

There they build a delicate little nest pouch that hangs from adjoining branches. These tiny birds lay an average of eight eggs with as many as a dozen reported. Of course the eggs are pint-sized, but still, that is a lot!

It is also during courtship when you see them glow. In the heat of passion they display their ruby crests. Sometimes competing males will hold “glow-offs” to determine who is the tougher guy. I’ve also found that when I’m calling birds in by imitating a Screech Owl, kinglets will come boiling in with crests elevated.

But most of the time, their light is under their bushel. They have a close relative, the Golden-crowned Kinglet that always shows yellow or orange atop their head. So, a good rule to follow is that if you don’t see color, you have a Ruby-crown. Golden-crowns are also hardier and more likely to be seen in mid-winter.

Over the next few weeks if you are out walking Nantucket’s trails, perhaps in the state forest, or on some of the Land Bank properties, listen for the high-pitched notes followed by the series of rich warbles that will set your heart a-flutter. Then watch for these nervous, tiny birds, tanking up on minute insects before they make the next part of their journey north. If you find one, you are well on your way to becoming a real birder!

Illustrations by George C. West.

Maria Mitchell Bird sponsors walks are Tuesdays and Saturdays at 8 a.m., starting May 10, leaving from 2 Vestal St. There is a fee.

To hear about rare birds, or to leave a bird report call the Massachusetts Audubon hot line at 888-224-6444, option 4.

Email Ken at: kenandcindy@copper.net.