A verdin is a tiny gray bird of brush habitats, from southern Utah and southwestern Oklahoma to central Mexico. Despite being relatively common and active, like a warbler, this energetic species can be easy to miss.

What Do Verdins Look Like?

“Their coloration is so generally cryptic that it feels like a treat to spot one hopping about in the branches—and to get to see the yellow color on its head or the rust color on its shoulder,” says Jennie Duberstein, coordinator for the Sonoran Joint Venture.

According to birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman, verdins used to be classified in the same family as chickadees, but new research shows that their closest relatives are certain small songbirds in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Visit Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona, to get a good look at verdin.

What Do Verdins Eat?

Verdins dine mostly on insects. To attract the birds, Jennie has a few recommendations. “Focus on providing verdins the plants and trees with the structures and food sources they need,” she says. “In my yard they love the mesquite and paloverde trees, and they are also fans of cactus like chollas.”

These spunky fliers often visit hummingbird feeders for sugar water and nectar plants. So a garden with native flowering plants may draw them in. Agile verdins can even eat while hanging upside down. 

Verdin Nests

Verdins construct incredible round abodes all year long, using some for nesting and others for roosting. Their homes are typically about 6 inches wide with an opening situated toward the bottom.

“These thorny globes are all-purpose houses, providing great protection from predators and extreme temperatures,” Jennie says. Verdins’ domed homes stay cooler in the summer and warmer in winter.

Male verdins stay involved and play a critical role in nest construction. The bird dads mostly set up the thorny outer structures. Females handle the interior decorating, adding a soft lining that’s usually a combo of grass and plant fibers.

Backyard Tip: In the Southwest, plant native shrubs to attract verdins for nesting and roosting, and to provide shade for them during hot summers.

Psst—this is the only bird nesting material you should put out.

What Do Juvenile Verdins Look Like?

A juvenile verdin sports an all-gray look and a bright yellow beak that dulls over time.

“I spotted this young verdin (above) on an early morning walk. I was happy it stayed around long enough for me to get a few pictures and to enjoy its beauty,” says Caroline Horowitz of Chandler, Arizona.

Verdin Song

The male verdin’s song is a simple tseet tsor tsor whistle. Males and females both give a loud chip call, sometimes in a rapid progression.

Until she learned to recognize their three-note whistle, Jennie didn’t realize how ubiquitous verdins were in her region. “Once I had it imprinted on my brain, I realized they were everywhere even if I couldn’t immediately see them,” she says.

Whenever she hears verdins now, Jennie looks to the trees and tries to spot them. Males do much of the singing, but during the breeding season females will occasionally sing back.

How to Support Verdins

COURTESY ANNA SMITH

While verdins are still common, their population declined 60% in North America between 1968 and 2015. This rate of decline is alarming for Jennie, who didn’t grow up in the Southwest and says it’s a daily thrill to see verdins now.

The species is particularly vulnerable to habitat loss. This bird likes open habitats, and it will readily come into yards that have a few native trees and shrubs such as mesquites, acacias or palo verdes. One threat is buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare), an invasive plant that is altering fire patterns throughout much of the bird’s range.

By supplying plants that verdins rely on—and by protecting Sonoran habitats—we can all help ensure that this spirited desert specialist continues to thrive.