Golden-crowned Kinglet
Regulus satrapa
Winter only — roughly November through March✨ Shiny — winter rarity
The take
Tiny, high in the conifers, crown like a struck match — winter's best squint-and-find.
How to ID it
- Black-and-white striped face with a bright yellow-orange crown patch
- Pale olive above and gray below with a thin white wingbar
- Stays high in dense conifers, giving very high thin calls and hovering at needle tips
Field marks at a glance
- Size
- tiny
- Head
- yellow-orange crown on striped face
- Call
- very high thin see-see-see
Where & when
Winter only — roughly November through March
Learn more
Sources
- Facts — ebird.org, verified August 2026
- Reference — allaboutbirds.org