Evening star., 1944-10-17
This and That
BY Charles Z. TrdcetDell.
WOODBRIDGE.

r..
Dear Sir:
I am daily reader of your column
and, thanks to it, am becoming more
bird conscious all the time.
To-day I saw a bird which I wonder
If you will identify.
1T was a very small bird, not more
than or 3h inches long. It's color
was gray, very similar to that of
sparrow. and about half way down on
the wings was perfect black and
white stripe, that is, black stripe
and white stripe.
The bird seemed tanner than other
birds. 1t was either oblivious of nv
presence or else was not afraid. I
have never seen one OF this species
before.
1T seemed to be only about half as
large as a sparrow.
I daresay many people throw the
unused bread crusts into the garbage
can. forgetting all about the hungry
birds outside. Squirrels also relish
bread when they are hungry.
so please, folks, throw those crusts
out to our furred or feathered friends.
1t Is just as easy. maybe easier, than
putting them in the garbage can.
Yours very truly, T.W.B."
This bird is probably the ruby
crowned kinglet.
1t Is one Of the smallest birds to
be seen locally, with the exception Of
the ruby -throated hummingbird
Exquisite is the only word for this
one.
1t Is usually seen at migration times.
the f1rst week In April until the first
week in May, and from October 2 to
November T.
Occasionally one will be seen in win
ter, for 1t Is very hardy bird, despite
It's fragile enameled appearance.
The ruby-crowned kinglet, and the
golden-crowned kinglet are among the
smallest of perching birds.
John Burroughs, the naturalist, called
them "Hop-o-My-Thu and cer-
tainly the title fits nicely.
AS for the ruby-crown, do not won
der If you do not see it at all. It is
possible to watch one OF these mites
at no greater distance than three or
four feet, and never once catch a glimpse
OF any red on the head.
This Is because the red or ruby tint
Is concealed by overlapping gray-green
feathers.
The generic name of the bird is Reg
uius,' which means little pretty king"
The crest Of the golden crowned king
let Is visible all the time, but its cousin
carries its crest concealed except when
IL is nghting, or showing OF for its
mate.
Burroughs, in his Far and Near
gives vivid picture of the way two
warning birds flashed their red crowns
at each other.
The ruby-crowned kinglet has a beau
tiful song, one which most listeners
think must come from a bird as large
as robin, at least
The kinglets and gnatcatchers form
an interesting group of singers. We
Will never forget the first time we saw
ruby-crowned kinglet. He was in
clump Of rhododendrons just outside
the dining room windows on the north.
The colder It is, Of course, the better
ne likes 1t. He had way of suddenly
disappearing beneath q rhododendron
leaf that was fascinating to watch. He
even could dart around the corner of
the house In q way almost magical.
We had never seen any bird with such
disappearance act before. No sooner
had we missed him, than there he
would be again. a
AS far as this close view could show,
there was no ruby color on his head.
but we knew it was there, overlaid
with other feathers. The species runs
from just short Of 4 inches In length
to about Az inches long. It is inter-
esting to realize that these little crea-
lures are closely related to the thrushes.
They build 4 beautiful nest, and lay
anywhere from 5 to . eggs In 1t. Nine
baby dnglets and their parents would
be sight to see, but . dihhcult one to
spot. because the family would be at
least q 3eet in the atr.