Birds in the Winter - Golden-Crowned Kinglet

If you catch a glimpse of this little bird, it is a real treat! These tiny round birds are easily identified by their constant movement and the tiny squeaks coming from high in the treetops. 
​The Golden-crowned kinglet is a native bird to the cold northern forests of Canada, nesting in tiny cup nests attached securely to coniferous trees,  but in the winter they can be found all across the US! 
The first image is from last year at Barne's Preserve, a flock of golden-crowned kinglets could be found in late winter high up in the treetops just beyond the parking area. The two other images are from just a few weeks ago at Brown's Lake Bog, when out hiking I paused to take in the silence and above me I heard the familiar squeak of the GCK, I looked up and saw 3 or 4 hopping from branch to branch having a great time in the setting sun! 
While it's hard to catch a glimpse of the golden-crown for which they're named, just by observing the behaviors - constant movement, size - quite small, and their sounds, you can be pretty sure you've found a GCK!
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