LUNA LOISEAU-TREMBLAY

AS SPRING ARRIVES on the east coast of Vancouver Island, the increase in birdsong is noticeable—contributing to an overall feeling of relief that the winter is behind us. The chattering of Chestnut-backed Chickadees actively gathering bugs amongst the trees and the manic trill of the Bewick's Wren is sure to grab our attention as we make our way through our busy days.

The Kinglets, of which we have two species seen here on the coast, are common little songbirds that you may see in mature Coastal Douglas Fir and Coastal Western Hemlock forests area. Kinglets are very small songbirds in the family Regulidae, weighing not more than 6.5 grams. We have two species that occur in our area, the Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Corthylio calendula and the Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa

The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet is a tiny olive green bird, with a white wing bar, a white eyering and a tiny needle-like beak. While both sexes look the same, when the male is displaying a ruby red crown of feathers raises up on the top of its head showing the reason for its common name. In comparison, the Golden-crowned

Kinglet is a tiny grayish olive green above, with gray below, and conspicuously yellow tinged wings. While it also has a prominent wing bar, it has a black and white pattern on the face with a black eyestripe and a bright goldish-yellow crest at the top of its head.

Both species are largely insectivorous, pecking small insects from various areas in the foliage of the canopy, gleaning insect eggs and other arthropods from the undersides of leaves and branches. They also eat seeds and fruits, such as berries. Kinglets are experts at hovering in the air and hanging upside down on branches while foraging for food, especially the Golden-crowned kinglet. The habit of Ruby-crowned kinglets involves more hovering and flycatching behavior high up in the trees, amongst the branches. Golden-crowned kinglets are often seen zipping around on the ground, foraging for insects right in front of you as you take a nice forest walk, once and a while noticing their yellow crest rising up.

These little Kinglets are among many birds that rely heavily on mature coniferous forests to provide a consistent and diverse food supply. The intricacy of a healthy forest ecosystem has many layers in its food web, working together to support the incredible biodiversity that coastal forests are so famous for.