Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Nisenan Tribute Site, Nevada City, California, USA
February 2019
Member of the Kinglet Family
§A Princedom of Kinglets§

[Etymology Corner] So, who exactly thought to name this bird (and his accompanying family) Kinglet? It's in the scientific name too, the latin name, Regulidae, literally translates to 'little king'. This is not because of a regal quality that this bird has (unlike kingbirds), but because of the physical trait of the colorful crest the adult birds of this family share. You can see the crest on this guy, just barely, here. It looks like someone drew a little line on his head with a highlighter. They do get more dramatic than this and flare up, when the bird is either courting or defending territory.

~True Bird Fact~ The Ruby-crowned Kinglet lays an enormous clutch of eggs for such a small bird- up to 12! And although they are admittedly really small eggs, taken together, they can add up to the weight of the female bird herself.

Likes fiddly little hand puzzles, like Jacob's Ladders or Rubik's Cubes
Has a nerd voice (you know what I mean)
Has petitioned, without success to get the -let removed from the end of his name. Embarrassed by this