Berkeley Backyard Bird Blog: Rare Sightings & Random Appearances of Golden-crowned Kinglets

Golden-crowned Kinglet along Wildcat Gorge Creek Trail

The uncommon thing about

Golden-crowned Kinglets

is, well . . .

And yet another terrible photo of the Golden-crowned Kinglet

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and proclaim that the elusive little suckers are not so common, but are actually pretty uncommon during this season or any time of year.

Golden-crowned Kinglet, photo by Dick Daniels, http://theworldbirds.org)

Yes, uncommon –

at least in my experience.

Spotted Towhee tweeting in brush

In 15 years of "really noticing birds" I can count on one hand, and still have digits left over, the number of times I've spotted these bustling bundles of jittery joy.

Prime bird habitat in Wildcat Peak area

And yet others lay claim to seeing Golden-crowned Kinglets regularly. I've read some recent online reports indicating such. So, it must be a matter of luck or timing, because the teensy occult foraging passerine completely eludes me for the most part.

Western Bluebird on Conlon Trail near Wildcat Peak

Which, on doing a bit of research, isn't so odd.

Many varieties of birds thrive along the creek in Wildcat Canyon Park

According to the Tilden and Wildcat Canyon Regional Parks Bird Checklist, Golden-crowned Kinglets are listed as UNCOMMON winter visitors, RARE spring passers-by, and, again, UNCOMMONLY sighted during the fall.

Wildcat Creek attracts many birds - and people!

A 1940 report on frequency of birds sighted on the Berkeley Campus indicates that the bird is spotted very INFREQUENTLY during all times of the year.

Lesser Goldfinch feeding on seeds

All I can think of is that maybe things have changed for the better for the Golden-crowned Kinglet since 1940.

Perky little Oak Titmouse

So what gives? Why are many people spotting Golden-crowned Kinglets in and around the Bay Area? And I'm left looking at way too many of the COMMON cousin, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet? (Well, there can never be too many.)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet deigning to flash red head patch

I've catalogued a grand total of four Golden-crowned Kinglet sightings, a low number surely indicative of just how hard the little cusses are to spot. By way of comparison, I see the Ruby-crowned Kinglet so frequently that it's no big deal anymore (unless, of course, you get a glimpse of his flashy ruby crown).

Rare glimpse of a Hermit Warbler in Tilden pine trees

But the Golden Crowned one, ah, this one's much more elusive. An insect foraging, edgy bird, barely bigger than a Hummingbird, he's tough to spot, given a predilection for foraging high up in "needle country" in recondite pine forest canopies. Your best bet for observing the Golden-crowned Kinglet is when they come down to riparian areas.

Chestnut-backed Chickadees are acrobatic feeders

A few weeks ago, I experienced my most satisfying sighting to date. The bird, or maybe it was two birds, hard to tell – flitted and foraged for some thirty minutes in brush and small trees along Wildcat Gorge Trail in Tilden Regional Park. Adding to the lively scene were Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Oak Titmouses, Townsend Warblers, and the ever-present Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

Townsend's Warbler peeking out from behind tree trunk

I also want to think I saw a Nashville Warbler . . . but, having failed to capture an image, I can't swear on it. But I can unequivocally state it was a Warbler-like bird I have never seen before. (Maybe a Vireo of some sort?) Regardless, it was a field day (rather a gorge day) for spotting a couple of birds rarely, if ever, spotted, by me, that is.

Bottom view of Wilson's Warbler at rest

My first Golden-crowned Kinglet sighting was at eerily cool Davis Lake in Oregon. I had no idea what bird it was that just flew like a quantum pellet disappearing into a bush. I had about a 5 second glimpse, just enough to later positively ID him as a Golden-crowned Kinglet – who could forget that stunning golden vertical stripe on the head?

Plush bird habitat on protected EBMUD watershed lands

My second sighting was on Oursan / Bear Creek Trail on EBMUD land. I had just set off and was not quite down to San Pablo Creek, when a bird I instantly knew I'd seen only one other time flew into a tree near the trail, darting about, disappearing, but sticking around long enough to get a much better second look, but no photo, of this crypto-avian species.

House Sparrow clinging to wire

A thrilling moment only a birder

in his/her/their own private world

can enjoy and savor.

Golden-crowned Kinglet spotted in forests of Mount Tamalpais slopes

My third sighting occurred in a small meadow off Steep Ravine Trail in Marin County. Aromatic after a nice rain, dense brush edged up against lush forest commingling with sunny meadow, perfect bird habitat and weather. Emerging from the dankness of the ravine into the sunlit clearing, I felt a sighting coming on. Go ahead, laugh.

Golden-crowned Kinglets are tough to photograph with just a point 'n click camera!

Soon it came: a beautiful Golden-crowned Kinglet manifesting right before my eyes in a tree a few feet away. Then – gone in a flash after 15 seconds of acquaintance. It's been good to know you, Golden-crowned Kinglet.

Warbling Vireo singing away in Tilden Nature Area

What makes the Wildcat Gorge sighting so special is how long the bird stuck around. For a full half-hour, I was absorbed in an almost OCD-like trance of obsessively tracking the Golden-crowned Kinglet and spotting birds in general.

Wildcat Creek beauty & bird h(e)aven

Plus, it was so beautiful after a fresh rain, with the creek burbling along, and the landscape glistening. Many hikers passing by with their dogs and kids, all looking up to the tree tops in wonderment at my insistent scrutiny though the binoculars.