It’sspring, and the Ruby-crowned Kinglet’s loud, rollicking song echoes from theforest edge in northern and western lowlands. Listen carefully, and you canhear three distinct parts of its song.

Thistiny powerhouse of a singer is one of the smallest songbirds on the continents,weighing in at just a little more than half a chickadee. Mostly green and hardto spot, flitting from twig to twig, it hovers in mid-air as it catches tinyinsects. The green crown-feathers on the male kinglet conceal a swatch of redones. When in the mood to sing, he raises this narrow, crimson crest. Thekinglet’s Latin name suits it well: Regulus calendula- the “glowing littleking,” a regal luster that points to his ruby crown, but could also describehis song.

TheRuby-crowned Kinglet turns up his spring song only in the lowlands. Later thismonth, he’ll depart to sing- and nest- at mile-high altitudes in our mountainforests.