Verdin
Auriparus flaviceps
Photo from image library at Wikipedia where there are many more
photos by Patrick Coin. License Information:
cc-by-sa 2.5 license
These very small birds are among the most common and characteristic species inhabiting the Sonoran Desert year round. They are even quite common in urban settings where they forage for insects and spiders and also occasionally visit hummingbird feeders. They cannot hover, so instead must perch or grab onto the feeder which they seem to be able to do with extraordinary agility. This ability is the namesake for their family group, Penduline-Tits. When insects are not available they feed on small fruits and flowers.
The overall color is a pale gray, but notice the splash of yellow on the face, the fine-point bill, and the small patch of rufous on the shoulder.