Ruby-crowned Kinglet showing its red crown while perched on a shed antler near a backyard feeder in Arkansas

Capturing the Ruby-crowned Kinglet’s Elusive Red Spot

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A Ruby-crowned Kinglet can feel like a blur with feathers. So when one paused long enough to show its red crown, I was ready.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet showing its red crown while perched on a shed antler near a backyard feeder in Arkansas
Ruby-crowned Kinglet on a shed antler, with the red crown finally visible in warm morning light near my Lavaca feeder.

Wildlife Notes

These kinglets are tiny and busy. When they show up near my feeder, they usually bounce from perch to perch and rarely hold still for long.

The red crown is the moment everyone hopes for. It is often hidden, so you can watch a bird for a while and never see it. This morning, the bird turned just right and that bright spot popped.

What made the scene even better was the perch. The kinglet landed on a shed antler near the feeder, and it looked perfectly at home there.

Photography Notes

This was a simple backyard setup in Lavaca, Arkansas, on February 22, 2011 at 9:23 a.m.

I mounted my camera and lens on a tripod and aimed at the feeder area where birds often pause. I also paid attention to the background. It needed to be clean and warm, with soft browns that would not compete with the bird.

The morning light helped a lot. It brought out the subtle feather detail and made the red crown stand out. I also pre-focused on likely perches, so I could react fast when the kinglet finally hopped onto the antler.

Gear and Settings

  • Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
  • Lens: Canon EF500mm f/4L IS
  • Mode: Aperture Priority
  • Aperture: f/5.6
  • Shutter Speed: 1/3200 sec (determined by the camera)
  • ISO: 500
  • Exposure Compensation: 0
  • Focal Length: 500 mm

This was one of those quick backyard wins that only happens when everything lines up. A little planning, good light, and a lot of patience turned a split-second flash of red into a keeper.