Unlimited edition. 18 x 24 inch, museum-quality poster on matte paper.

Each fall, I look forward to the return of ruby-crowned kinglets. Some years, I hear them before I see them, their scolding chatter of a call letting me know they’re back from their summer breeding grounds. Usually, though, I spot one of the small, sprightly birds flitting through the branches of my yard oaks. Seemingly unable to stay put for more than a 1/2 second, the birds “hop search” from branch to branch, on the hunt for spiders and insects. They supplement their mostly “meaty” menu with occasional fruits and seeds – here, poison oak berries are a favorite food.

When not visiting California and the rest of its expansive “lower 48” winter range, the ruby-crowned kinglet heads to the spruce-fir forests of Canada, Alaska, and the mountains of the western US. It is a secretive nester, and researchers have not yet learned much about the species’ breeding habits.

Speaking of secrets, this bird usually hides its “crown.” Male birds most often flash their bright and bold head plumage when alarmed or facing a rival; think of it as a mood barometer or a red flag of warning. Evidently, some males also expose the “ruby” color to females during courtship, though researchers note the crown is “only moderately erect” when displayed in this context. To create this color column, I looked at birds displaying the “crown” in this more restrained way, neither fully erect nor hidden from view.

Note: These archival poster prints feature rich, appealing colors. I encourage customers to take care in handling them until they are framed/protected for display; the darker colors on the matte paper can be scratched. They ship rolled, so customers need to flatten them before framing (or have their framer do so).

Charitable Sales Model: Whenever one of these poster prints is purchased, a charitable contribution equal to 10% of the print’s cost (or $3.60) is made to a nonprofit working to tackle environmental or social challenges. Read more about my charitable sales model here.