In the category of heard, rather than seen, the kinglet is truly a king. At 3 - 4 inches, they are among the smallest birds in Western Washington. They also move really fast. Kinglets flit from branch to branch, quickly picking off minute insects and their eggs.
When you do see a kinglet, you will probably find it unremarkable. From a distance, kinglets appear to be mostly grey-green. They have black and white markings on their face and a thin stripe on their wings.
What makes kinglets extraordinary and a delight to spot is their crown. The fellow above is a Golden-crowned kinglet (there are also Ruby-crowned). Most of the time, the yellow 'crown' is visible. During mating season, the male will flash a tall, punk rock-worthy, mohawk-of-a-crown. This indicates willingness and fitness to mate. He with the brightest, most garish crown gets the girl!
The genus of kinglets is Regulus. Translated from Latin, it means "petty king" or "prince"
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