Ruby-crowned Kinglets are small, active songbirds that are found throughout North America. These tiny birds are olive-green above and white below with white wingbars. As their name suggests, adult male Ruby-crowned Kinglets have a brilliant red crown patch that is usually concealed. Kinglets are active foragers, constantly on the move as they flit through branches and foliage searching for insects and spiders. Their habit of almost constantly being in motion makes Ruby-crowned Kinglets challenging to observe well. So do Ruby-crowned Kinglets visit bird feeders?
Quick Answer
Ruby-crowned Kinglets do not commonly visit bird feeders. These tiny songbirds prefer to find their food while constantly foraging amongst trees and shrubs. They mainly eat insects and spiders which are not found at bird feeders. While not impossible, sightings of Ruby-crowned Kinglets at feeders are very rare.
Reasons Ruby-crowned Kinglets Do Not Visit Feeders
There are several reasons why Ruby-crowned Kinglets do not regularly visit bird feeders:
Diet
The diet of Ruby-crowned Kinglets consists almost entirely of small insects and spiders. These birds are constantly on the move as they forage through branches and leaves searching for tiny prey items. They simply do not seek out the seeds, suet, and nectar that is offered at backyard bird feeders. Kinglets may very occasionally sample fruit or sap, but insect prey makes up the bulk of their diet.
Foraging Behavior
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are active foragers. They are constantly on the move as they hunt through vegetation, foliage, branches and bark crevices for insect prey and spiders. This foraging strategy is not conducive to visiting stationary feeders. Kinglets prefer to find food while they are actively moving and hunting through trees and shrubs.
Small Size
Weighing just 4 to 7 grams, Ruby-crowned Kinglets are tiny birds. Their very small size means they have a high metabolism and need to consume large amounts of food relative to their body weight. For their survival, Ruby-crowned Kinglets need to constantly forage for nutritious, high-calorie insects and spiders. Backyard bird feeders may not provide enough high-energy food to sustain these tiny active birds.
Lack of Flocking Behavior
Ruby-crowned Kinglets do not congregate in flocks around centralized food sources. Unlike chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and other feeder birds, kinglets are usually observed singly or in pairs, not in flocks. This lack of flocking behavior reduces the likelihood of them discovering and taking advantage of backyard bird feeders as a food source.
Do Ruby-crowned Kinglets Ever Visit Feeders?
While Ruby-crowned Kinglets are not regular feeder birds, they may very occasionally visit feeders under certain circumstances:
During Migration and Winter
Kinglets may be slightly more likely to visit feeders during fall or spring migration, or in wintertime when insect prey is scarce. Providing suet or peanut butter mixes may offer supplemental high-calorie food during stressful periods when their regular food sources are limited.
Near Areas of Heavy Vegetation
Backyards adjacent to areas of dense trees and shrubs that attract foraging kinglets may be occasionally visited if the birds happen to venture near feeders. Having foliage coverage near feeders provides a familiar environment that kinglets may be willing to briefly explore.
Very High Populations
In areas or years when Ruby-crowned Kinglets are present in very high numbers, a few individuals may discover and investigate backyard feeders. However, most will still rely on natural insect food sources.
Offerings That May Attract Kinglets
While it is unusual to see Ruby-crowned Kinglets at feeders, the following types of offerings may be most likely to occasionally attract them:
Suet
Suet is a high-fat bird food that may appeal to kinglets, especially in winter when cold temperatures increase energy demands. Suet often contains nuts, seeds, and fruit, so it provides some carbohydrates in addition to fat.
Mealworms
Dried mealworms offered in small mesh bags or trays provide a good source of protein and fat. Live mealworms would be even better but more difficult to supply continually.
Peanut Butter Mixes
Combinations of peanut butter, cornmeal, oats and seeds make excellent high-energy foods that may attract wintering kinglets.
Fruit
Occasionally offering chopped fruits like apples, berries, grapes or raisins may provide an enticing, though not critical, supplemental food source.
Other Ways to Observe Ruby-crowned Kinglets
Since Ruby-crowned Kinglets only very rarely visit feeders, the best way to enjoy these active little songbirds is to encounter them in their natural foraging habitats. Some tips for observing kinglets include:
Listen for vocalizations
Kinglets are quite vocal, frequently making high-pitched call notes and scolds. Listening for these sounds can reveal the presence of actively foraging kinglets that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Search dense vegetation
Carefully watch for movement in stands of conifers or other dense vegetation and foliage. Kinglets stay hidden as they actively hunt through dense cover.
Use pishing sounds
Making “pishing” sounds to mimic a bird in distress can attract curious kinglets to investigate, bringing them into view. However, use this sparingly so as not to disturb their normal behavior.
Try water features
Kinglets drink and bathe frequently, so providing running water or mist may draw these active birds out. They typically stay high in trees though and may not come down to ground level water sources.
Conclusion
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are not regular visitors at backyard bird feeders due to their insectivorous diet, foraging behavior, small size, and lack of flocking tendencies. While kinglets only very rarely appear at feeders, they can sometimes be attracted to suet, mealworms, peanut butter mixes, or fruit that provides supplemental calories and fat. However, the best way to enjoy observing these energetic little songbirds is to look and listen for them in their preferred natural foraging habitats of conifers and dense wooded areas.
Reasons Ruby-crowned Kinglets Do Not Visit Feeders |
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Diet mainly consists of insects and spiders, not seeds or suet |
Prefer to forage actively in vegetation rather than visit stationary feeders |
Very small size means they need a constant food source rich in insects |
Typically observed alone or in pairs rather than in flocks |