For a Golden-crowned Kinglet, migration is tiring!

It's a mild day in early October.  As I stroll around the yard, I see something unusual.  A small bird, the size of a cupcake is clinging to the side of a large Silver Maple.  The unusual thing is, this bird also looks like a cupcake, with a dollop of yellow and red frosting right on it's head.

While keeping my distance, I was able to record its behavior.  It doesn't seem bothered by me being nearby.  I've never seen a bird like this in my yard before, so I had to do some sleuthing.  I found that the bird was an adult male Golden-crowned Kinglet. 

Apparently these little birds cannot go a few hours without food or it will starve.  This may be why they are more focused on foraging than flying!  This little guy was probably tired from migrating, and needed a snack.

The golden-crowned kinglet forages actively in trees or shrubs, mainly eating insects, insect eggs and spiders. It produces a series of high-pitched calls on a single note, and tends not to fear human approach. Its nest is a well-concealed hanging cup suspended from a conifer branch. [gbif.com]

Sources:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-crowned_Kinglet/overview

https://www.gbif.org/species/144101948

https://rachelcarsoncouncil.salsalabs.org/golden-crownedkinglet