kinglet

[king-lit]

noun

1. a king ruling over a small country or territory.

2. any of several small, greenish, crested birds of the genus Regulus.

kinglet

/ ˈkɪŋlɪt /

noun

1. derogatory,  the king of a small or insignificant territory

2. any of various small warblers of the genus Regulus, having a black-edged yellow crown: family Muscicapidae

Word History and Origins

Origin of kinglet¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; king + -let

Example Sentences

It’s easier for big birds to keep warm, but some tiny species — like chickadees and kinglets — also are adapted to Northwest winters.

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The scientific content is enlivened with explorations around Heinrich’s cabin in Maine, as well as results from his own delightfully ghoulish experiments — like heating up a dead kinglet and measuring its cooling rate.

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Seen here are everyday delights such as chickadees, kinglets and nuthatches, to Cooper’s hawks and even in some years the tiny northern Saw-whet owl, in addition to common barred owls.

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I want to know the chickadees, bushtits, warblers and finches, barn swallows, wrens and the tiny ruby-crowned kinglet.

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The lab has created maps so far for 107 species, from easy-to-spot birds such as pelicans, herons, eagles, vultures, robins, blackbirds and swallows to the more elusive warblers, buntings and kinglets.

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