(Photos and story by Pam Hunt)
Kinglets are the smallest songbirds that nest in New Hampshire, and at a quarter ounce (roughly the weight of a quarter) are only twice the size of a hummingbird. They are active little birds that seem to be constantly moving and are well-known for their habit of repeatedly flicking their wings. Both species of kinglets nest exclusively in coniferous forests, but the Golden-crowned (Regulus satrapa) is more widespread than the Ruby-crowned. The two species co-occur in northern New Hampshire, but the Golden-crowned also uses areas of pine and hemlock in the south, although absent from the coast and major river valleys. Outside the breeding season it can be found statewide, even in small patches of pines in urban areas.
Golden-crowned Kinglets regularly spend the winter in cold and snowy northern forests, where they feed on insects and spiders hidden in bark or clumps of needles. How such a small bird can survive under these conditions remains something of a mystery. They apparently neither build up fat reserves to last them through the night, nor enter into hypothermia to conserve body heat. During cold winter days they probably need to spend all their time foraging just to stay alive, and there are anecdotal accounts of them roosting in squirrel nests or clustered together on branches to conserve heat. Keep all this in mind the next time to see Golden-crowned Kinglets acting as if there was nothing amiss while you shiver on a day when the temperature is below freezing.
As shown in Figure 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet populations are highly variable. These fluctuations are not well understood but may reflect both large scale habitat changes and winter weather conditions. For instance, increases in parts of its range in the 1970s and 1980s are often attributed to the maturation of non-native spruce and pine plantations. In contrast, the sometimes dramatic spikes seen in the winter data probably result from influxes of kinglets from farther north due to cold snaps and/or the absence of food.
State of the Birds at a Glance:
- Habitat: Spruce-fir Forest, Hardwood-mixed Forest
- Migration: Short distance
- Population trend: Uncertain
- Threats: Predation, Collisions, Habitat loss
- Conservation actions: Maintain a bird-friendly yard, More data are needed on population trends and magnitudes of threats
More information on “The State of New Hampshire’s Birds” is available here. Full species profiles in the format of “Bird of the Month” are now available here.
You can help collect valuable data on Golden-crowned Kinglets and other winter birds by participating in NH Audubon’s “Backyard Winter Bird Survey.” The survey will occur on February 8-9, 2025. Visit the Backyard Winter Bird Survey webpage for details.