Date: 9/19/25 9:03 am From: Amy Williamson via groups.io <amywillbird...> Subject: Re: [centralvalleybirds] Ruby-crowned Kinglets
Many thanks to Ed for this information!
I'll never know if the lone Ruby-crowned Kinglet that's been at my campsite
the past few days is a recent arrival from Alaska (and perhaps headed
downslope at some point) or has been here over the summer and is soon to
depart for elsewhere, possibly Mexico! ; )
Amy
On Fri, Sep 19, 2025, 6:49 AM K1mize <k1mize...> wrote:
> Interesting.
>
>
> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
> <https://aolapp.onelink.me/eG2g?pid=NativePlacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_320_EmailSignature_AttributionDL&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002473&af_sub5=SentFromNewAOLApp__Interstitial_&af_ios_store_cpp=ce85ce34-ad0f-4811-a92b-a172743b064e&af_android_url=https%3A%2F%2Fplay.google.com%2Fstore%2Fapps%2Fdetails%3Fid%3Dcom.aol.mobile.aolapp%26listing%3Demail_signature_attribution> >
> On Thursday, September 18, 2025, 4:24 PM, ed pandolfino via groups.io
> <erpfromca...> wrote:
>
> *Amy (and others who may be interested),*
>
> *First, Ruby-crowned Kinglets used to be (early last century) a relatively
> common breeder in the Sierra. However, they are now uncommon and very
> sparsely distributed there (while still VERY common in the Rockies). It is
> likely that ALL Ruby-crowned Kinglet populations are migratory (most
> long-distance, some mainly altitudinal).*
>
> *From fall through early spring, this kinglet is VERY common in the lower
> elevations of CA. However, based on some work we did on song dialects
> (https://journal.afonet.org/vol94/iss3/art10 > <https://journal.afonet.org/vol94/iss3/art10>) it appears that all the CA
> winterers breed in central Alaska! We don't know where the Sierra breeders
> winter, but probably somewhere in Mexico.*
>
> *Ed Pandolfino*
> *Sacramento*
>
> On Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 01:11:42 PM PDT, Amy Williamson via
> groups.io <amywillbird...> wrote:
>
>
> Over several days' stationary observations at the same location at about
> 6200' in the Sierra Nevada (Nevada Co, very close to the border with Placer
> Co) I've heard/seen a single Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
>
> Despite being a long time birder, without an ornithology background there
> are many gaping holes in my knowledge of bird populations. Based on my
> geographical locations in CA and on the southeastern US coast, I think of
> Ruby-crowned Kinglets as ubiquitous wintering birds and I recognize how
> they look, sound and behave as they forage. That's the extent of my
> knowledge.
>
> Seeing/hearing only one Ruby-crowned over several days has sparked my
> curiosity. I looked up their range and found breeding range in the Sierra
> Nevada.
>
> Now I wonder whether this lone bird is part of fall migration or not. Do
> "we" know much about how many and at what elevation these birds breed here?
> Do we know if the breeding population here are residents or if they, too,
> are migrants from elsewhere, whether far or near?
>
> Amy Williamson
> Nevada Co (currently)
>
>
>
