Kinglets Are Around

You'll want to forgive the poor quality of the photo, but I have only this one from Wednesday (a bad light day) to demonstrate that a Ruby Crowned Kinglet is in the neighborhood again this winter. Kinglets are quite common in the Piedmont in winter, but not everyone can expect to see them at feeders, and definitely not if they do not offer suet or peanut butter as I do. They're small birds---just a shade smaller than a Carolina Chickadee---and very drab. I distinguish them from Pine Warblers by dint of greener plumage and a pronounced white eye ring. And if a yardstick of some kind is available (the perch is an example--I exactly know its length) the Pine Warbler will be seen to be larger. So in spite of the crummy photo, I have two field marks that conclusively identify this bird. And I am one happy guy to see Kinglets again!