Ruby-crowned Kinglet

LC - Least Concern

N5B - Secure Breeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

not listed

The upper parts are olive green. The underparts are whitish to yellowish. There is a prominent white wingbar. On the head there is a prominent, broken, light eye riing. The male has a small red crown that is often hidden. The female lacks the red crown.

3½″ to 4¼″ in length

6½″ to 7½″ wingspan

Breeding: Coniferous and mixed forests and woodlands with spruce,

Migration: Coniferous, deciduous, and muxed forests with shrub understory

Late March to late May and late August to early November

Common to abundant migrant, uncommon to rare breeder

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

I filled a water bottle cap with water and dipped my finger into the water and held it near the bird and he pecked my finger once. I also put a few pumpkin seeds in the container. He pretty quickly buried his head and upper body into the cotton rag and I left him there for the night. I planned to bring him to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in the morning.

In the morning, to my surprise, the bird was perched on the edge of the container and when I approached he took flight and flew around the basement. I opened the door to the garage and the garage door itself and he eventually found his way out and flew away.

Location: Rochester, MN

Saw this sweet little bird in the wooded area behind our house. I have never seen it before. We have quite a few bird that migrate through each year. Hope he will be back! What a treat to see!

Location: Saint Paul

I was biking on Summit Ave in Saint Paul and saw something in the middle of the bike lane. As I went around I realized it was the cutest little bird with a bright orange spot, and he just looked at me calmly as I passed. I went back to see if it was injured or if I could get it out of the street. When I approached him on foot he flew right up into the tree. 

Location: south of Zumbrota on my sons farm in a bare service berry bush near house windows.

Seemed to want to come in or see his reflection in window. I’ve never seen one before. My grandson thought it was a hummingbird it was so tiny and beautiful.

Location: Minnetonka

I spotted a male today in my yew bushes.

Location: Minnetonka/Deephaven MN

Flew into our window near a feeder with seed & dried meal worms. Hung out for a few minutes to regroup, but flew away fine. Have lived in our home for 15 years, and this is the first time I’ve seen one here.

Location: on Sunset Drive South, Minnetonka

with a few other birds (maybe females)
among dense lilac shrub branches

Heard an unusual happy bird song and spotted the chickadee-sized bird with the bright red “crown"

Location: New Hope, Mn

outside flying around my patio...

Location: on the W side of France Ave just S of 49th St, Minneapolis

unforgettable, as I’d never before seen a bird with such a distinct red “dot” on the top of his head.

Location: Minnetonka

I noticed a little round bird hopping into the garage through the side door at dusk two days ago. I could not find the bird when I went into the garage at first but then spotted him in the warmest corner of the garage near the door entry to the home. He faced the wall with his head tucked into his body and was shivering a little. I assumed the bird was injured. I was able to pick him up easily and put him in a small open container with tissues and then brought him into the warm basement where I put a cotton rag near the front of the container. The bird was very sweet and did not seem to be afraid of me.

I filled a water bottle cap with water and dipped my finger into the water and held it near the bird and he pecked my finger once. I also put a few pumpkin seeds in the container. He pretty quickly buried his head and upper body into the cotton rag and I left him there for the night. I planned to bring him to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in the morning.

In the morning, to my surprise, the bird was perched on the edge of the container and when I approached he took flight and flew around the basement. I opened the door to the garage and the garage door itself and he eventually found his way out and flew away.

I am now hoping that this was not a mistake as I’m reading that these birds migrate south to warmer climate and it has been unseasonably cold with temperatures dropping below freezing. I am also worried about the bird being on his own. Can you please tell me what this birds chances for survival are now that he’s back in the cold by himself? Thank you!

Location: SW Minneapolis, MN

Been here two days so far, incredibly busy, very interested in our dining room 12/1 windows, with an evergreen shrub/tree to dance around in.

Location: Paynesville MN 56362

In my tree in front of my house - tiny and fast and so spirited !!!

Location: Northfield, MN

We live on the edge of town, near a marshy area and a field. Our yard has 8 mature pines in it. Have never seen this guy before. He is hovering near and landing on our front windows… He has his red plumage up. The kids think he has fallen in love with his reflection… Hmmm… He may not be breeding this year! LOL

Location: city neighborhood in St. Paul, MN (one mile East of the Mississippi River, about ¾  mile South of I94 freeway)

I’ve never seen this beautiful little bird here in my yard!  As I was walking in my garage past the window, this little guy flew in and out of the lilac tree branches outside the window (only about 5’ above the ground) --- crest all fluffed up and raised.  I wondered if he had seen his reflection and was thinking it was another Kinglet.

Location: Paynesville  MN

Beautiful and soooo tiny and they blend in with the green yellow leaves that are left. I saw 3-4 of them today, took some photos and one had the red tuft on its head - the male. Beautiful!!!!!!!

Location: Dagenham, Essex, United Kingdom

I saw four of these beautiful birds eating in my front garden, did not get time to take a photo shot

Location: Maple Plain, Minnesota 

a flock of singlets today at our feeder. Squirrel scared them away.

Location: Princeton, Minnesota

in our yard hit window we picked it up and we a reporting that we had one here lovely bird we have never seen one before