Ruby-crowned Kinglet Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of OrnithologySkip to main contentDonateDonateSearchMenuRuby-crowned Kinglet IdentificationRuby-crowned Kinglet Photos and VideosMassachusetts, December 06, 2016Ohio, April 04, 2017Arkansas, February 04, 2005Washington, March 28, 2020Indiana, April 22, 2020New York, October 13, 2018Pennsylvania, December 04, 2015Massachusetts, October 29, 2018Nova Scotia, August 05, 2020Rhode Island, January 31, 2016See more images of this species in Macaulay LibraryCompare with Similar SpeciesClick on an image to compareLooking for ID Help?Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.Try Merlin Bird IDThe Four Keys to IDSize & Shape Kinglets are tiny songbirds with relatively large heads, almost no neck, and thin tails. They have very small, thin, straight bills. Relative SizeSmaller than a chickadee or warbler; about the same size as a Golden-crowned Kinglet.sparrow-sized or smallerMeasurementsBoth SexesLength: 3.5-4.3 in (9-11 cm)Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (5-10 g)Wingspan: 6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)Color PatternRuby-crowned Kinglets are olive-green birds with a prominent white eyering and white wingbar. This wingbar contrasts with an adjacent blackish bar in the wing. The “ruby crown” of the male is only occasionally visible.BehaviorThese are restless, acrobatic birds that move quickly through foliage, typically at lower and middle levels. They flick their wings almost constantly as they go.HabitatRuby-crowned Kinglets breed in tall, dense conifer forests such as spruce, fir, and tamarack. In winter and during migration, also look for them in shrubby habitats, deciduous forests, parks, and suburbs.Regional DifferencesRuby-crowned Kinglets in coastal southern Alaska and British Columbia are slightly smaller and darker colored than elsewhere in their range.Species in This Family(Order: Passeriformes, Family: )Browse Species in This FamilyMore to ReadA Modest Proposal: Can eBird Help Choose Better State Birds? [Part 1]Bird AcademyAll About FeathersThe Cornell Lab Review: Affordable Full-Size 8x42 Binoculars What do I do if I find a sick, injured, or dead bird?The Best Trees, Vines, and Shrubs to Plant for Birds: a Starter ListAbout Suet, Mealworms, and Other Bird FoodsFollow us© 2025 Cornell UniversityCancel×Search for species name or keywordsSearchOr Browse Bird Guide by or Need Bird ID Help? Try MerlinCancel×Don't miss a thing! Join our email listThe Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation., A tiny bird seemingly overflowing with energy, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet forages almost frantically through lower branches of shrubs and trees. Its habit of constantly flicking its wings is a key identification clue., The ruby-crowned kinglet (Corthylio calendula) is a very small passerine bird found throughout North America. It is a member of the kinglet family. The bird has olive-green plumage with two white wing bars and a white eye-ring. Males have a red crown patch, which is often concealed..