Desckiptive List 327 



In western North Carolina it is known to breed on Black Mountain above the 

 fir belt. Kopnian's record of seeing one on Auf^ust 24, 1S98, at Cloudland, Mitchell 

 County, would point to their breeding in the vicinity of Roan Mountain. Feild 

 and Bruner found young birds on Grandfather Mountain June 24, 1911, at an 

 elevation of 5,000 feet. Birds were also observed by them the same year on Roan 

 Mountain, July 1, at 6,100 feet, and on Mount Mitchell, July 15, at 6,500 feet 

 elevation. Sherman heard them at Double Spring Gap in Haywood County, May 

 25, 1913. 



The nest of the Golden-crowned Kinglet is built among the slender twigs of 

 spruces and perhaps other evergreens. It is composed of green mosses, mixed with 

 lichens, and lined \\dth delicate strips of soft inner Vjark and black rootlets. The 

 eggs vary from creamy white to very deep cream-color, si^rinkled with numerous 

 brown markings of various sizes. Size .50 x .44. The number of eggs to the set 

 appears to be usually nine. 



333. Regulus calendula calendula {Linn.). Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 



Description. — Olivaceous above, buffy below; Cl•ow^^ in male with a concealed crown-patch 

 which i.s usually bright red, but very rarely yellow; underparts whitish, tail sUghtly forked. Im. — 

 Without the crown-patch. L., 4.40; W., 2.25; T., 1.7.5. 



Range. — North America, breeding mainly north of the United States. 



Range in North Carolina. — Winter visitor in the central and eastern parts of the State, transient 

 in the mountains. 



Fig. 268. Ruby-crowned Kinolet. 



Throughout most of North Carolina this Kinglet is a winter visitor. It never 

 goes in troops and is more often seen during the migrations than in winter. It 

 has been found at Raleigh as early as October 1 and as late in spring as May 10. 



In the mountains it has been noted between October 6 and November in the 

 fall and between April 3 and May 7 in the spring migration. 



This bird has a habit of shghtly fluttering its wings when hopping from twig to 

 twig, and this custom, together vnth its pale orbital ring, will usually serve to 

 identify it in the field. It is a good singer and indulges much in its musical abili- 

 ties during late March and early April. 



The yellow crown-patch appears to be quite unusual, as out of forty-four speci- 

 mens taken at Raleigh by H. H. and C. S. Brimley only three were found with any 

 yellow on the crown. 



