Kinglet

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Kinglets

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Regulidae
Genus:	Regulus Cuvier, 1800

Species

See text.

The kinglets or crests are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice. The scientific name Regulidae comes from the Latin word regulus for "petty king" or prince. They have representatives in North America and Eurasia. There are now seven species in this family. Madeira Firecrest, Regulus madeirensis recently split from Firecrest as a separate species. The scientific and English names come from the fact that the adults have coloured crowns.

Recent molecular studies have added some confusion the true phylogeny of the Regulidae Family. They are placed in the Superfamily Sylvioidea (e.g., nuthatches, treecreepers, tits, wrens, crests/kinglets, swallows, bulbuls, babblers, and warblers). This is likely correct however the relationships of Regulidae are unresolved. A Myoglobin tree was used in the research in order to differentiate lineages.(Alström)

All members of the family are 9-15.5 cm. These birds have an eye-ring or a stripe at the supercilium. The males possess a colorful crown patch. They have one specific feather which projects forward over the nares.

Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa

Firecrest

[edit] Species

Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
Tenerife Goldcrest or Orangecrest, Regulus teneriffae, split from Goldcrest as separate species
Firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus
Madeira Firecrest, Regulus madeirensis
Taiwan Firecrest or Flamecrest, Regulus goodfellowi
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

Regulus bulgarius is a prehistoric species known only from fossils. Its remains have been found in the Late Pliocene deposit of Varshets, Bulgaria.

[edit] References

Podlesak, D. W. (2005). Stable isotopes in breath, blood, feces and feathers can indicate intra-individual changes in the diet of migratory songbirds. Oecologia, 142: 4: 501-510.
Cumming, E.E. (2004) Habitat segregation among songbirds in old-growth boreal, mixed wood forest. Canadian Field-Naturalist. 118: 1: 45-55
Hayes, J.P. (2003) Response of birds to thinning young Douglas-fir forests. Ecological Applications. 13:5: 1222-1232
Heinrich, Bernd. (2003) Overnighting of Golden-crowned Kinglets during winter. Wilson Bulletin. 115:2: 113-114
Humple, D.L.,et al. (2001) Female-biased sex ratio in a wintering population of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Wilson Bulletin. 113:4: 419-424
Gill, F. (1995). Ornithology. USA: W.H. Freeman.
Bent, A.C. (1964). Life histories of North American thrushes, kinglets, and their allies. New York: Dover Publications
Alström, P.(2006, February). Phylogeny and classification of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 38 (2).Retrieved March 2006, from http://portal.isiknowledge.com/portal.cgi