When do ruby-crowned kinglets arrive in Washington?
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a summer breeder in Washington — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet timing in Washington
- Arrives
- Around April
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Present roughly
- April–August
In Washington, ruby-crowned kinglets are present through the warm months, arriving around April and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Washington sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here tracks the continental average closely. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when ruby-crowned kinglets are expected in Washington. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before April is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early April — the first ruby-crowned kinglets into Washington are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around May, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What ruby-crowned kinglets eat while they're here
- Aphids, gnats, spiders and insect eggs
Winters in the south and visits suet feeders, hover-gleaning at branch tips between visits.
Full Ruby-crowned Kinglet diet guide → · Best feeder for ruby-crowned kinglets →
Native plants that hold ruby-crowned kinglets in Washington
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Washington-native plants are known to attract ruby-crowned kinglets:
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do ruby-crowned kinglets arrive in Washington?
ruby-crowned kinglets typically arrive in Washington around April, with nesting underway by May. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do ruby-crowned kinglets leave Washington?
Most ruby-crowned kinglets have left Washington by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do ruby-crowned kinglets stay in Washington all year?
No — in Washington the Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a summer breeder, present roughly April–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before ruby-crowned kinglets arrive in Washington?
Have feeders up and clean by early April — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: aphids, gnats, spiders and insect eggs.
Sources
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Washington
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.