A crest of gold marks this cousin of the Ruby-crowned. Often no color is
visible upon the head except the uniform olive or greenish tinge.
However, when the bird is excited, the crest is raised and it is then
that the color of the crown may be very well seen.
Habits: The Kinglets are friendly birds that often come very near. They
seem to be much more tame than the warblers.
Food: A constant search for tiny insects occupies the time of the
Kinglets.
Song: The Ruby-crown is the superior singer of the two. His song
consists of a loud, clear warble, interrupted here and there with
a wren-like chatter. The Golden-crown's song may be expressed as
"tzze, tzze, tzze, tzze, ti, ti, tir, t-t-t-." The call note is an
extremely high-pitched "ti-ti."
Nest: The roundish nests of the Kinglets are made of moss, thin strips
of inner bark, feathers and other like materials. These nests are
made in evergreen trees and are sometimes placed as high as sixty
feet above the ground.
[Illustration: _Ruby-crowned Kinglet--4¼ inches_]