The Western Golden-crowned Kinglet 
Range of R. r. olivaceus. —Western North America; breeding in the Boreal zone 
from Kadiak Island and Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, south to the mountains of southern 
California, and in the humid Transition zone of the northwest coastal strip from 
southern Alaska to San Francisco Bay; resident or winter resident in the humid coastal 
strip, and winter resident or visitor from British Columbia to Guatemala. 
Distribution in California. —Not common summer resident in the humid 
coastal strip south to Marin County, in the northern coastal ranges, along the central 
crest of the Sierra Nevadas, and in the Warner, San Bernardinos and San Jacinto 
Mountains. Common in winter in the humid coastal strip, and more sparingly and 
locally in timbered sections west of the Sierras, south to the mountains of Los Angeles 
County. 
Authorities.—Cooper ( Regulus satrapa), Orn. Calif., 1870, p. 32 (Sierra 
Nevada); Beal, U. S. Dept. Agric., Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 30, 1907, p. 84 (food); Sheldon, 
Condor, vol. x., 1908, p. 123 (Marin Co., desc. nest and eggs); Grinnell and Swartli, 
Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. x., 1913, p. 313 (San Jacinto Mts.; summer); Ingersoll, 
Condor, vol. xv., 1913, p. 85 (Sierra Nevada; destruction of nests). 
THREE of these little Kings, namely, Gold-crest, Fire-crest, and 
Ruby-crest, have portioned out the Northern World amongst themselves; 
and of these, Gold-crest ( Regulus regulus) must be deemed preeminent, a 
sort of czarlet, for he rules in the European realms of King Fire-crest 
( Regulus ignicapillus) no less than in those of the Ruby-crested Kinglet 
(C. calendula) , of America. In the hr woods of the North R. regulus ( sat¬ 
rapa ) is the more abundant form; but in California its range is more 
narrowly confined to the mountain heights; while in winter it is very much 
less abundant and prominent than the well nigh ubiquitous Ruby-crown. 
But at that, it is really surprising how very few people do know this 
amiable little monarch. To one who seeks the honor of his aquaintance, 
he proves a most delightful friend; but he has his little modesties and 
reserves, becoming to a potentate, so that a thousand of him would never 
be “common,” nor pall upon the senses. 
Kinglets go in troupes, family parties, which keep a little to them¬ 
selves ordinarily; although Chickadees and Nuthatches, or even Creepers 
and Wrens, are welcome messmates in the friendly winter-time. Ever¬ 
green trees, exclusively, are frequented, and the real abundance of the 
birds at all seasons is coextensive with that of the Douglas spruce ( Pseu- 
dotsuga douglasi) and the various fir trees. W ith tireless energy they 
search both bark and branches for insects’ eggs and larvae scarce visible 
to the human eye. They peer about incessantly, bending and darting 
and twisting and squirming, now hanging head downward, if need be, now 
fluttering prettily against the under side of a branch; but always on the 
go, until frequently one despairs of catching fair sight of the crown for the 
necessary fraction of a second. Of course it’s a Golden-crown; but, then, 
we want to see it. 
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