Nature Bird Haiku Poem of the Golden-Crowned Kinglet 5 7 5
Yellow flashes in
bushes—Golden-Crowned Kinglet
flits away like light.
Justin Farley
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I saw a Golden-Crowned Kinglet in the woods yesterday and had to actually look it up. I assumed it was possibly a type of juvenile sparrow but the streak of yellow on its cap, its beak, and its small size left some doubt, especially since it flew out of some brush almost the second I saw it. I wrote this short nature inspired haiku from my hiking adventure.
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The Golden-Crowned Kinglet is well known for its band of yellow across the top of its head. Here are some additional quick, fun facts you might not know:
Interesting Bird Facts About the Golden-Crowned Kinglet
- Tiny but Mighty:
Weighing just 0.1 to 0.3 ounces (about the weight of two pennies), the Golden-crowned Kinglet is one of the smallest perching birds in North America. - Crown of Gold:
Both sexes have a bright yellow crown bordered by black. Males have an additional orange patch that they can raise during displays. - Cold Survivors:
These birds can withstand frigid temperatures as low as -40°F, thanks to their high metabolic rate and the habit of huddling together for warmth. - Energetic Foragers:
Golden-crowned Kinglets are in constant motion, flitting through branches and even hanging upside down to eat insects and spiders from foliage. - High-Pitched Calls:
Their song is a series of high, thin notes, often described as “tsee-tsee-tsee,” which can be challenging for some people to hear because of its high pitch. - Large Families:
Despite their size, they lay a large amount of eggs (8 to 11). Remarkably, they often raise two broods each season, with the male caring for the first while the female incubates the second. - Nesting High:
Their nests are built high in conifer trees, made as deep cups made of moss, lichens, and spider webs, providing insulation against the cold. - Widespread Range:
They breed in forests across Canada and the northern U.S., and migrate to various parts of the U.S. and Mexico for the winter. - Distinctive Appearance:
In addition to their crown, they have olive-gray upperparts, white underparts, and two white wing bars, with a black stripe through the eye. - High Metabolism:
Their body temperature runs at about 111°F, higher than most birds, needing constant feeding to maintain energy levels, especially in cold climates.
The Golden-Crowned Kinglet is a bird that’s often hard to find. It flits around so quick and elusively that it’s often a rare bird to see. Guess I got lucky yesterday!
Have you seen the Golden-Crowned Kinglet?What did you find interesting about the bird? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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