04 Dec Small Bird, Big Name | Dec 2015

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a small bird with a big name.

Okay, maybe kinglet is appropriate for a really small king, which in this case would be about 4 1/4-in (11-cm) long.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are very difficult to photograph. Besides being small, they’re incredibly acrobatic. They hop and flutter randomly about inside a tree, usually staying put for a fraction of a second (or two).

By the time you find the bird in your viewfinder, it’s gone.

Persistence, patience, and a lot of luck, are thus the keys to taking a photo of this small bird. So far, I’ve taken hundreds of photos to end up with this one.

And I wish it were better.

Ideally, the bird’s head would be turned toward you and its ruby crown would be visible.

That means I have to go back.

You see, one of the benefits of bird photography is: There’s always a better photo waiting for you.

So if you see me in a park during December with my camera pointed at a tree, I’m probably waiting for a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Here’s more at:

This Small Bird Has Too Many Names

Position Open

Did You Know?

The most effective way to help birds is to buy land.

Here are three organizations that excel at doing this.

1) American Bird Conservancy

2) The Nature Conservancy

3) The Trust for Public Land

Please visit their web sites to learn about the work they do.

Here’s an excellent book: The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation

You can help – Please share this blog with others.

Inspiring Respect for Nature, one bird at a time.

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