Goldcrests and Kinglets
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Order:
Passeriformes
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Family:
Regulidae
Regulidae is a family of 6 very small birds,
members of which are found in North America and Europe. The 4 species found in
Europe are known as either goldcrests or firecrests. The 2 North American
species are known as kinglets.
Members of Regulidae have brightly-colored crests,
which can be raised as part of a courtship or threat display
Goldcrests and Kinglets –
Regulidae Family
The Regulidae Family is in the Passeriformes
Order (Songbirds). The
kinglets or crests are a small group of birds sometimes included in the Old
World warblers, but are frequently given family status because they also
resemble the titmice. The scientific name Regulidae is derived from the Latin
word regulus for “petty
king” or prince, and comes from the coloured crowns of adult
birds. This family has representatives in North America and Eurasia. There are
seven species in this family; one, the Madeira Firecrest, Regulus madeirensis, was only
recently split from Firecrest as a separate species. One species, the
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, differs sufficiently in its voice and plumage to
occasionally be afforded its own genus, Corthylio.
The Latin name regulus means “little king“. It is connected
with a fable of the election of the “king
of birds“. The bird who could fly the longest distance would be
made king. The eagle outflew all other birds, but he was beaten by a small bird
who had hidden itself in his plumage. This legend is already known to Aristotle
(Hist. animalium 9.11) and Plinius (Naturalis hist. 10.74). The motivation of
the name is the yellow “crown” of regulus. Because of the legend’s reference to
the “smallest of birds” becoming king, the title was however also transferred
to the true wren in some languages.[1] The firecrest and goldcrest are also
commonly known as “fire-crested wren” and “golden-crested wren”, respectively,
reinforcing the association of the kinglet with the (true) wren. The English
name kinglet is a 19th century translation of the Latin name.
And He
has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
LORDS. (Revelation 19:16 NKJV)
Kinglets
range in size from 9 to 11 cm and are amongst the smallest of the passerines,
and indeed of all birds. They have medium-sized wings and tails, and the tails
of all species are incised at the tip. The bill is small and needle-like. The
plumage is overall grey-green. Most have an eye-ring or a stripe at the
supercilium, although the slightly atypical Ruby-crowned Kinglet lacks this.
The males possess a colourful crown patch. They have one specific feather which
projects forward over the nares (again lacking in the Ruby-crowned Kinglet).
Generally
kinglets prefer conifer forests, although there is a certain amount of
adaptability and most species will use other habitats, particularly during
migration. They have a distribution that takes in the northern boreal forests,
but also extend down as far as the subtropics in places. A number of insular
populations have evolved into separate species and subspecies.
The tiny size and rapid metabolism of kinglets
means that they must constantly forage in order to provide their energy needs.
They will continue feeding even when nest building. Kinglets prevented from
feeding may lose a third of their body weight in twenty minutes and may starve
to death in an hour. Kinglets are insectivores, preferentially feeding on
insects such as aphids and springtails that have soft cuticles. Prey is
generally gleaned from the branches and leaves of trees, although in some
circumstances prey may be taken on the wing or from the leaf litter on the
ground.
The nest
are small, very neat cups, almost spherical in shape, made of moss and lichen
held together with spiderwebs and hung from twigs near the end of a high branch
of a conifer. They are lined with hair and feathers, and a few feathers are
placed over the opening. These characteristics provide good insulation against
the cold environment. The female lays 7 to 12 eggs, which are white or pale
buff, some having fine dark brown spots. Because the nest is small, they are
stacked in layers. The female incubates; she pushes her legs (which are well
supplied with blood vessels, hence warm) down among the eggs. The eggs hatch
after 15 to 17 days. The young stay in the nest for 19 to 24 days. After being
fed, nestlings make their way down to the bottom of the nest, pushing their
still-hungry siblings up to be fed in their turn (but also to be cold).
