“Why, oh why is that bird named the ruby-crowned kinglet, Bernice?” Hector asked me shortly after we had seen one. “I think it should be called the teeny-weeny grey bird.”
“Hector, teeny-weeny grey bird is a terrible name,” I laughed. “And the bird’s name would make sense if we saw him in his crown. Male ruby-crowned kinglets have red feathers on their heads that they raise in times of great excitement. When they do so, they look like they are wearing ruby-colored crowns. Or so I hear. The truth is, I have never seen one with his red crown-feathers standing up.”
“You haven’t? Let’s see if we can find one!”
We looked all day, but we never did find another ruby-crowned kinglet. Le sigh.
Hector and I had a great day anyway – we always do.
XOXO,
Bernice