Verdin Nest

One of the birds people seem interested in learning about on my guided Bird Hike is the Verdin.  A resident of the South West, the Verdin is a bird that most of the people visiting from northern states know nothing about.  A unique practice of the Verdin is the ball shaped nest that it constructs with a lower side entrance. If you look closely in this photo you will be able to spot a Verdin in the lower right hand corner sticking his head out of the nest.  Verdin males make many of these structures each year and then the female selects one to use for nesting.  The other spare structures are often used for roosting, their sturdy construction providing insulation for year around use.