Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper, looks like tree barkLots of birds here this morning. We saw 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets together, then 4 Brown Creepers, as a little migrant group. Plus we have tons (100 plus) of robins, many going to our crab apples. Sometimes we see more birds on rainy, gray days like this, as they slow down on their migration.
Both Golden-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers have somewhat similar high-pitched "tseee" calls and that can alert you to their presence. Golden-crowned Kinglets are hyper-active little birds, who often flick their wings. The male has an orange-red patch in the middle of the yellow of the crown, visible when he raises his crest. Golden-crowned Kinglets are more boldly patterned, with their big, white, eyebrow and black and yellow on head, than their relative, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Brown Creepers are very camouflaged little birds who hitch their way up tree trunks, then flutter down to the bottom of the next trunk and begin their way up again. They probe the bark of trees for insects, only very rarely will visit bird feeders for suet.
So these birds are out there, maybe more visible now, as they come through on their migrations. They can be seen just about anywhere in the country. Go outside with your binoculars, listen for their high-pitched calls, and get treated to these cool little birds in this trick-or-treat season.
1 comment:
I saw both of these species the other day, while walking my dog through the woods. The Golden-crowned Kinglets were in a mixed flock along with chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and so on. I was alerted to the presence of the Brown Creeper by the high-pitched call you mention. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but then I saw it climbing up a tree! They are neat little birds.
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