More visitors in the pines of Saddle Rock
The small nuthatch and even smaller kinglet
Mar. 2002

 



About a week ago, Lucy went hysterical and was pounding the window with her paws. It could have been almost anything, but I wasn't quite prepared for so small an anything: a nuthatch. Or, to be more specific, a ruby-breasted nuthatch was engaged in as complete a display of acrobatics as you'd wish in any bird.

I ran and got my Sony camcorder to record the bird which looked like two-thirds the size of a chickadee. Flying upside-down or right-side up made no difference to the nuthatch as it worked its way among the pine trees.
 

Red-breasted nuthatch

 
While trying to follow the nuthatch, I realized I was also recording a second bird, even smaller than the nuthatch, which Sue identified as a kinglet. Speaking roughly, the yellow-crowned kinglet is about half the size of a chickadee. And the kinglet was performing complex antics all his own.
 
Golden-crowned kinglet

 
The little kinglet is small enough to perch on pine needles, that is, when calm enough to be still for a few seconds.

I have no idea how long they'll stay in the area. Already the robins are coming into full voice, and the mourning doves are cooing away. This, to say the least, is a very, very early spring!
 




Look Out!   |   sharp-shinned hawk   |   Ladybug extremes   |   Contact