All the reports of Golden-Crowned Kinglets (mostly) ground and low
level feeding, moves me to report that my husband, Bob, and I saw
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet behaving the same way at the Montlake Fill very
near the Connabear boathouse on a very cold but windless day a few
weeks ago. They were all over some low bushes, on the ground, almost
at our feet, and at times almost hovering as they flew up and down,
picking at the underside of leaves and then back to thingson the
ground. We were quite amazed. They flashed their beautiful ruby
crowns quite a bit.

Elizabeth Edgerton
Seattle


Message: 13
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:59:54 -0800
From: bruce paige <BBPaige at nikola.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] Golden-crowned kinglet behavior.
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <88504F0B-AADF-4C11-A1D5-2D5E1109885D at nikola.com>
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I've seen the described tame, intent, ground-feeding behavior dozens
of times this winter since November, in many different situations and
conditions, cold, wet, windy, calm, sunny, morning, afternoon, late
evening, and have observed the kinglets actively picking tid bits
(insects?) out of the grass and off leaf litter, plus making aerial
forays from the ground up for short distances. I also tend to think
these small birds are benefiting from some very small, abundant food
items that are an important winter food source. Is there something
somewhere in research data or literature about this behavior?

Bruce Paige
Sequim