Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Pretty Birds, Opposite Attitudes

The Verdin is a southwestern specialty and is a wonderful creature by all accounts. They make great nests, they're colorful, they're playful, and they're easy to find. They're first identified by their yellow heads, but their constant chirping and acrobatic feeding makes them stand out as recognizable songsters that can be found throughout the year.

"Hey guys...yeah I'm just hanging out." 

If they're lucky, Verdin will grow to be four and a half inches. Despite their small stature, their wily antics guarantee they'll be one of the first birds you see while perusing the desert scrub.


Always cheerful, always on the move, they're the Warblers of the southwest. At least, the southwest makes do with them until the Warblers arrive.


The Verdin is a little bird with a brilliant yellow head and an outgoing attitude to match. The Lazuli Bunting is another small bird with a beautifully colored head. They can be found in Arizona during the spring, but in my experiences they are far from outgoing. Their bold plumage makes them easy to pick out, but getting them to pose for a picture is another story.


The tall grass makes for a pleasant setting, but only if you can see the bird in it! The Lazuli Bunting doesn't have the people skills of the Verdin, but their shyness makes them all the more exciting and satisfying to find.



Lazuli Buntings and Verdins are two birds at different ends of the social spectrum, even the color spectrum. Both are totally stunning in their element, even if the Buntings really make you feel unappreciated...

6 comments:

  1. I totally agree with you about the Verdins. I love our little birds around here. Great post and write on these two birds. I am still searching for the Lazuli Bunting, but I did find a Summer Tanager which was pretty exciting. Very tricky. They are a lot of fun to watch around the garden here. The weekend is almost here. I have more bird posts coming....just being all artsy right now. I have a photography shoot on bats this Friday....night time shots make me nervous....:(

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    1. Thanks Chris. This is the best I've managed with Buntings so far; they're not cooperative birds.
      I can't even imagine night time photography. I don't know anything about flash, but I'm lloking forward to your results.

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  2. I love seeing your Verdin images, I wish we had them here. I do get Lazulis though and when they are singing on their breeding territory they are a bit more approachable, I hope to see some soon.

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    1. Thanks Mia. I'm hoping you get some Lazulis soon too, for my sake as well : )

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  3. Nice shots! I've never seen either of those birds.

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    1. Verdins are all over down. Find some desert scrub and you'll be swimming in them before long.
      The Lazuli Buntings are not common, and it's still a pleasant surprise when I see them.

      Of course, I don't get to enjoy American Goldfinches all summer long either, so it ain't all...gold.

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