The verdin occupies desert regions of southwest North America from southwestern Colorado down into Mexico, throughout Baja California and along the Gulf of Mexico south to Tamaulipas.

(Sibley, 2000; Webster, 1999)

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: RESIDENT: from northeastern Baja California, southern California, southern Nevada, northern Arizona, southwestern Utah, central New Mexico and central Texas south to southern Baja California and central mainland of Mexico (AOU 1983).

The verdin has an ash-gray upperside and a pale-gray or white underside. The head is yellow and has dark lores. A maroon patch on the shoulders is present. Males are brighter overall; juveniles lack the yellow head, dark lores and maroon shoulder patch and are plain gray overall. Very small bird, with a short, rounded tail and a short and sharp bill.

(Sibley, 2000; Webster, 1999)

Range mass: 6 to 8 g.

Range length: 90 to 110 mm.

Average wingspan: 16.25 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Length: 11 cm

Weight: 7 grams

• Terrestrial

The verdin is primarily an inhabitant of desert scrub areas, particularly in desert riparian zones and along washes. Verdins prefer thorny brush over open desert and are found at lower elevations but can be present at higher elevations in central Mexico.

(Webster, 1999)

Range elevation: 2135 (high) m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: scrub forest

Other Habitat Features: riparian

Comments: Desert and arid brush, primarily in mesquite and creosotebush (AOU 1983). BREEDING: Nests in a shrub, small tree, or cactus. Usually nests near the end of a branch, 0.5-6 m above ground.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

The bulk of the diet of the verdin is insects and is complemented by nectar, fruits and seeds of legumes. Verdins forage within desert shrubs and trees, flitting actively among the limbs chasing insects. Verdins will also forage from flower and will feed from hummingbird feeders in suburban landscapes. When the verdin captures large prey it holds it with its feet and tears it apart with its bill. When feeding foraging from long flowers it will pierce the base of the corolla to reach the nectar. In fall and winter the verdin will feed on fruits and berries as well as seeds from legumes. The verdin has shown no evidence of food storage. (Webster, 1999)

Foods eaten include: caterpillars, jumping spiders, aphids, beetle and wasp larvae, leafhoppers, berries, nectar, palm fruits and seedpods of legumes.

Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; nectar

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore , Eats non-insect arthropods)

Comments: Feeds on insects (adults, larvae, and eggs) in addition to some fruit. Forages actively in bushes, cactuses, and trees, inspecting foliage, bark and twigs for insects.

When a verdin detects a predator it repeatedly gives an alarm call of gee-gee-gee and will also make this call when foraging is interrupted by a large flock of birds. (Webster, 1999)

Known Predators:

• sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus)
• Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii)
• loggerhead shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus)
• western scrub-jays (Aphelocoma californica)
• coachwhip snakes (Masticophis flagellum)

Forages in pairs or small family groups. May compete with cactus wren for nest sites. Home range size relatively large for a small bird: ranged from 3.6-12.5 hectares in Arizona, average 9.4 hectares (Taylor 1967).

The longest-living Verdin is recorded at 5 years 7 months. But data suggests that the average lifespan rarely exceeds more than 3 years.

(Webster, 1999)

Range lifespan

Status: wild: 5.6 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 3 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 67 months.

In March males may begin building a display nest to attract a female. Both male and female will finish the nest together and the first clutch will be laid by mid-March to April. Both the sexes prepare a site for the nest by removing thorns from the area. The male's role in construction is dominated by the outer shell of the nest, while the female works on the inner layers. Nest sites are built at an average height of 1.8 m from the ground, ranging from 0.8 to 4 m. Several nests may be built close together by individuals of the same family group. However no cooperative nesting has been recorded. Nests tend to be conspicuous because they are placed in vegetation lacking dense coverage. However the nest may be composed of thorny branches, helping to reduce the threat of predation. In general the nest is domed with its entrance facing away from the center of the host plant supporting it. Nests built in the summer are built facing prevailing winds most likely for cooling purposes, while in the spring nests face away from prevailing winds. (Sibley 2001; Webster 1999)

Mating System: monogamous

Females lay 3-6 blue-green to greenish white eggs weighing about 0.96 g each. Egg-laying begins as soon as the female finishes lining the nest. Eggs are laid one per day in the mornings of consecutive days. Females have a brood patch and incubate the eggs for 14 to 18 days. Only the female incubates the eggs but the male remains in the vicinity of the nest and vocalizes frequently during incubation. Young fledge from the nest 17 to 21 days after hatching depending on the availability of insects for feeding. Males play a larger role in feeding fledglings as females may begin to lay a second clutch within 2 days after the young fledge. If a second clutch is laid, the male becomes fully responsible for the first fledglings. Gradually the male will lead the young further from the nest to forage in new feeding areas. (Webster, 1999)

Breeding season: March to August

Range eggs per season: 3 to 6.

Average eggs per season: 4.

Range time to hatching: 14 to 18 days.

Range fledging age: 17 to 21 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Average eggs per season: 4.

The female solely incubates the eggs while the male calls frequently during incubation. Once the young have fledged the male plays a greater role in foraging as the female attempts to lay a second clutch. If the second clutch is laid, the male assumes all responsibility for the first set of young. (Webster, 1999)

Parental Investment: altricial ; male parental care ; female parental care

Clutch size 3-6 (typically 4). Incubation 14 days. Nestlings altricial, leave nest in about 3 weeks but return to nest to roost at night.

Verdins are negatively impacted by the loss of habitat due to commercial and residential development. While healthy populations exist within suburban environments, verdin populations have been shown to decrease in highly urbanized environments such as mobile home parks and golf courses. However no management efforts have been taken to increase populations.

(Webster, 1999)

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure