2 very small birds - Whatcom County, WA, USA (1 Viewer)

[watchmefly]

I have 2 related ID questions:

1) A very small bird (smaller than a chickadee) that comes in flocks of 20 or so to my suet feeder and they completely cover the suet. What a sight to see the suet covered with 10+ birds at the same time! They are buff/grey colored without any outstanding markings that i can see. Tends to be in winter.

2) A bird about the same size but with clear markings feeding on ground January. Olive colored back and yellow stripe on head above eye. There might have been a white stripe on head also. So either yellow stripe on head or yellow and white stripe. I just saw the one, so not in a flock.

Thanks, this is my first ID question so I hope I have done alright!

 

[fugl]

First one sounds like Common Bushtits. Golden-crowned Kinglet for the second maybe?

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

The first birds might be Bushtits. The second I'm not really sure on. Can you describe what shape the bill was e.g. slender or chunky and conical?

 

[KC Foggin]

And my thoughts are Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Golden-crowned Kinlet. It would be great if you could get some pics of them the next time you see them.

 

[Nutcracker]

Agree with Bushtit for #1, a flock 'covering a feeder' is absolutely typical (example); gnatcatchers wouldn't do this (they don't visit feeders at all!).

#2 tricky; Kinglets rarely go on the ground, so I think that's unlikely.

 

[fugl]

#2 tricky; Kinglets rarely go on the ground, so I think that's unlikely.

Except when tempted by crumbs of suet under feeders, that being my experience at least with Ruby-crowns in Nevada.

 

[watchmefly]

Thank you for confirmation on Bushtit for bird #1. I thought so but wasn't sure. It is wonderful how they fly about here, and land together in bushes and like I said, on my suet.

Oh my gosh the Golden-crowned Kinglet is adorable. Close, but this bird had the yellow in a stripe on each eye and not on the crown. But the olive is correct. I have only seen one bird once so I don't have a lot to offer. What struck me was it's size. Tiny like the Bushtits. I don't often see birds smaller than Chickadees

Thanks for the Bushtit ID. Now I would just love to spot a nest someday!

 

[tril42]

The second bird sounds like a White-Throated Sparrow, except they're not particularly small...