WESTERN BIRDS Kinglet 



you do not see the crimson patch which has given the 

 bird its name. Only the male has this patch and the 

 chances are that you will not see it for it is usually 

 concealed, and you see only a somber little bird. This 

 ability of our feathered folk to hide, or show, at will 

 different colored plumage on various parts of their bodies 

 is to me a marvelous thing. 



In their winter homes the birds seldom show this red 

 patch. When excitement, or anger, causes them to do 

 so, the whole top of the head seems to be aflame, and 

 the beholder is filled with delight at this exhibition. 

 The female lacks this concealed patch, but so far as 

 human observations are concerned, she might as well 

 have it. 



A story which was told me illustrates well the shape 

 and size of the patch. It was after a winter rain in 

 California and a large geranium leaf with upturned 

 edges was filled with water. One of these Kinglets was 

 drinking from the cup and the observer thought a red 

 geranium petal had fallen on his head. She was, there- 

 fore, much surprised when the bird flew away and no 

 petal floated to the ground. 



The^e birds are extremely restless, flitting about con- 

 tinuously in their search for insect life, and keeping up 

 a jerking movement of the wings. In plumage and size 

 they resemble some of the Vireos, the Huttons, of the 

 west coast, for instance. The sure way of distinguish- 

 ing them is by the call, which is quite different. The 

 Kinglet's common call, which he frequently gives, is a 

 noisy chatter which is far louder than one would expect 

 to come from so tiny a throat. Then, too, in the great- 

 est part of its California range, it is a winter visitor, 

 only, in the valleys, while the Vireo, although being a 

 resident in some localities, is oftener seen in the summer- 

 time. The Kinglet is far friendlier than is the Vireo, 

 coming about the gardens and into the shade trees along 



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