Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet [lateral view of adult]. Photograph Credit: Rickey Shive; Pulliam Hollow, Metcalfe County, Kentucky; 14 October 2018.

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Abundance: Uncommon during fall, winter, and spring; recorded in all Regional counties (Map of UCR Distribution); data from Regional bird-monitoring projects are limited, leaving determination of the trend for the wintering population uncertain (see also Regional Bird-Monitoring Plan).

Status: Winter Resident; photograph [lateral view of agitated male] (Carol D. Williams; DeKalb County, Tennessee; 23 December 2011); photograph [dorsal view of individual of unknown sex at sapsucker drill holes] (DJ Stanley; Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee; 16 January 2008).

Regional High Count and CBC/CBB High Count: 29 (22 December 1999; Clay County, Tennessee [CBC]; m. ob.).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Early Fall: x (

    Late Spring: x (

Note: Fall arrival generally widespread by 10 October; spring departure usually complete by 5 May; Regional dates of earliest reported fall arrival and latest reported spring departure during winters from 2002–2003 to 2011–2012 follow:

Habitat: x

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: Registered on 12 (of 125) monthly check-lists during 2003 and on 21 (of 206) check-lists during 2004, resulting in a YardWatch frequency classification of Uncommon during each year; this YardWatch frequency classification is  consistent with the overall Regional abundance classification.

Remarks: This species may benefit from the drill holes constructed by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in the trunks of trees that produce a flow of sap from such breaks in their bark; this photograph (DJ Stanley; Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee; 16 January 2008) illustrates a Ruby-crown at such drill holes, but whether sap or insects drawn to sap or some other attraction drew the kinglet to the drill holes is hard to say.

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited