Verdin
Image: Patrick Coin (<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cotinis" title="User:Cotinis">Patrick Coin</a>) (CC BY-SA 2.5)
NameVerdin
Common NameVerdin
Scientific NameAuriparus flaviceps
FamilyRemizidae
Wingspan (cm)16
Length (cm)11
Weight (g)7.5
Plumage DetailsAdults have a dull gray body, a bright yellow head and throat, and a distinctive chestnut-red patch on the bend of the wing. The bill is small and pointed. Juveniles are duller and lack the yellow head and chestnut patch.
Vocalization / CallTheir call is a sharp, clear 'chip' or 'tsip'. They also have a distinctive, often repeated, three-note song, 'tsee-tsee-tsoo', which can sound buzzy.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsdesert scrub, chaparral, mesquite thickets, arid woodlands
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the southwestern United States (southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) and much of Mexico, extending south to central Mexico.
Identifying Featuressmall size, bright yellow head and throat, gray body, chestnut-red shoulder patch, pointed bill, active foraging behavior
Description
A very small, active songbird of arid scrublands, the Verdin is known for its distinctive yellow head and small size. It constantly forages among thorny branches for insects and nectar.
