Wednesday, May 4, 2011

King(let) of the forest

Conversation a few days ago between hubby and our four-year-old grandson, Augie:

Click photo to read about this bird on BirdForum
Peter: Come look at the tiny bird on the suet feeder. It's a little like a finch, but it has a red streak on its head.

Augie: It's a ruby-crowned kinglet.

Peter: No, I think a kinglet is some kind of water bird.

Augie (emphatically): No, a ruby-crowned kinglet is a coniferous forest bird.

Peter (skeptically): Get your bird book; let's see what it says.

Augie: See, right here, it's a ruby-crowned kinglet.

And that's exactly what it was.

So now we've met a whole new variety of bird, a tad bigger than a hummingbird and less efficient at hovering. It is passing through on its migration northward. Males do have a reddish patch, but much of the time it is flat to their heads and cannot be seen.

I've been trying to get a shot of this active little guy, but so far he hasn't stayed around long enough. Photographing a ruby-crowned kinglet is now on my bucket list (I have simple wants). Meanwhile, I borrowed a photo from BirdForum.

14 comments:

Coll said...

And I've just met a whole new variety of four-year-old. Auggie's knowledge of birds is astounding!

Teresa Evangeline said...

That is so cool. What a wonderful addition to this world your little Augie is. Loving and knowing birds is such a fine way to begin one's quest for understanding of the world around them.

DJan said...

Can I have Augie come to visit me for awhile and help me identify some birds? :-)

What fun that he is so knowledgeable about birds and not to mention right!

Unknown said...

That was some really cool dialogue. I have simple wants too. Can't wait to see your photograph! xoxo

Lisa @ Grandma's Briefs said...

Such a great hobby to share. And Augie is a natural, it seems. Smart kiddo!

Jeanie said...

I SO LOVE THIS! (Sorry, didn't mean to shout, but I do!) What a treasure you have there with the birds AND the bird watchers!

Deb Shucka said...

I love how smart and confident Augie is! Kinglets winter here - their high-pitched chatter makes me happy on wet winter walks. I've never caught one with my camera - they move so fast! I hope you get one and share with us.

Grandmother Mary said...

I love this story and how competent kids can be in becoming knowledgeable about their environment. Reminds me of my grandson when he was 4 and we went to a birding sanctuary in Trinidad (Asa Wright). He and I were on the veranda and I saw a bird. "What's that?" said I. "That's a ruby throated hummingbird." said he. "And next to it?" "that's the female of the species" said he. I'm amazed by then and he goes on to answer all my other questions, including one asking what the big lizardy was. "That's a lizard and all lizards are mammals." It's not until you ask that you find out how much they absorb. Yours is a smart one!

Sally Wessely said...

Augie reminds me of my youngest son. He would really amaze me about his bird knowledge when he was quite young.

I love the link that you gave us. That is a great resource.

gayle said...

He knows really big words for his age!! You and grandpa sure are teaching him a lot! Plus his knowledge about birds ........wow!

grammy said...

That is one smart little Bird watcher' (o:
I bet you guys were proud of him.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Sounds like Augie is a natural! What a great interest you can nuture for many years! :)

Far Side of Fifty said...

Happy Mothers Day!:)

Ally said...

Your grandchildren are alarmingly intelligent. Please let them know that they are teaching me now. While I believe that everyone has something to teach us, I never dreamed I would be learning about birds from Augie!

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