Auriparus flaviceps
adult
With its slender, pointed bill and compact body, the Verdin bears a passing resemblance to a warbler. In overall plumage terms the sexes are similar, although the male’s plumage is typically brighter than that of the female. Adults have a gray back and nape; the gray wings have pale margins to the flight feathers and a small reddish “shoulder” patch. The mainly yellow face emphasizes the dark lores and eye. The underparts are pale gray, and the legs and bill are dark. Juveniles are uniformly gray-buff above and pale gray below, and lack the colors seen on the adults’ face and “shoulders.”
The Verdin is present year-round in the desert habitats of the southern states of the U.S.A. Although it is an active feeder, flicking its tail as it progresses, it is usually unobtrusive and easily overlooked. The fact that it is usually solitary outside the breeding season does not help with locating the species.
juvenile
FACT FILE
LENGTH 4.5 in (11.5 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates
HABITAT Arid habitats, including deserts and mesquite woodland
STATUS Locally common resident
VOICE Song is a whistled three-note tee-tiu-tiu. Calls include a sharp tsip
