Kinglet WESTERN BIRDS 



ing the crown colors sharper, and the under parts more 

 washed with buffy brown. 



In habits this bird resembles the eastern one. It is 

 fond of the big trees, where it may be often heard when 

 not seen. It is, also, a bird of the mountain regions, 

 seldom straying into the valleys. 



In the vicinity of Los Angeles, where the Ruby- 

 crowned are common winter visitors, the Golden- 

 crowned is rare. 



GENUS REGULUS : RUBY-CROWNED 

 KINGLET. 



Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Regulus calendula calendula. 

 FAMILY— KINGLETS AND GNATCATCHERS. 



The Ruby-crowned Kinglet, one of our daintiest birds, 

 is best known as a winter visitor in most parts of the 

 United States, preferring to nest in the far north. How- 

 ever, some members of the tribe nest on the west coast 

 as far south as above seven thousand feet in the San 

 Jacinto Range, southern California, in the mountains to 

 southern Arizona, central New Mexico; wintering from 

 British Columbia, Iowa, and Virginia (casually further 

 north), south over the United States and Mexican table- 

 land. 



In southern California these birds begin to appear 

 early in October and all winter long they forage among 

 the trees in the gardens, keeping up a noisy chattering 

 that proclaims their presence. 



They are scarcely over four inches long and are non- 

 descript in coloring, being a greenish shade that blends 

 well with the foliage they frequent. A light eye-ring 

 with two wing bars will help to identify them, even if 



350 



