Golden-crowned Kinglet
Learn to identify the Golden-crowned Kinglet by ear. Master the "tsee-tsee-tsee-titi-ti" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Golden-crowned Kinglet sounds like
A high-pitched, ascending series of very thin notes that accelerate into a trill. A typical song might start with 3–7 slow "tsee" notes, each higher than the last, and then a fast, jumbling trill of shorter notes. Some describe it as "see-see-see, so-so-so, see-see-see-ti-ti-ti-ti". It's a very subtle song, often difficult for people to hear, especially if they have trouble with high frequencies. Males usually sing in the early breeding season, from high in the canopy.
How to tell it apart
Lessons featuring the Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Golden-crowned Kinglet's sounds in these interactive in-app lessons.
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Where you'll hear it
Northern North America; some populations migrate south in winter
Coniferous and mixed forests, especially those with spruce, fir, and pine trees
Active year-round, even in harsh winter conditions; joins mixed species flocks in non-breeding season
How to recognize it by sight
Exceptionally small songbird (only 4 inches long) with a very short tail and thin, pointed bill. The overall coloration is olive-green on the back and pale grayish on the belly.
Similar species
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Another kinglet species often found in similar habitats, especially during migration and winter. Ruby-crowned Kinglets lack the Golden-crowned's bold head striping. Instead, Ruby-crowns are greenish-gray with a conspicuous white eye-ring and no black-and-yellow crown pattern. Males have a hidden red crown patch that is only occasionally visible when they are excited. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are slightly larger on average and tend to be a bit more olive overall. Behaviorally, Ruby-crowns flick their wings almost constantly while foraging – a notable behavior that Golden-crowned Kinglets do not do as often.
Black-capped Chickadee
Chickadees are larger (about 5-6 inches) and chunkier with a distinctly different color pattern: a black cap and bib, white cheeks, and buffy sides. Chickadees have a relatively longer tail and a thicker bill. They often flock with kinglets, but their calls (the chickadee-dee-dee and whistle "fee-bee") are much lower pitched and very different. Chickadees also move a bit slower and more methodically compared to the tiny, hyperactive kinglets.