On Fri, 3 May 1996, Patrick Scott wrote:
> As I recall, the ruby-crowned kinglets have an interrupted eyering, is
> that right? I am in the process of finally moving from Washington into
> Idaho, and all my books are forever (hopefully not!) divorced from me. If
> someone could tell me what the main features for identifying the kinglets
> are, I'd be tickled pink (or ruby).

Easiest way is to look at the face. Golden-crowned has a prominent eye
line (and then the gold crown on top). Ruby-crowned lacks this (and yes
it has an incomplete eyering). The crown on the Golden-crowned is very
easy to see, while the crown on the Ruby-crowned is often difficult to
glimpse.

-------------
Michael R. Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu
http://salmo.cqs.washington.edu/~wagap/mike.html