Verdins in California

Verdins live in California all year. Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insects, berries and nectar.

Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.

Across California, verdins typically nest from February–June. Nest site: ball of thorny twigs in desert shrubs. Females lay 3–6 eggs, incubate for 14–18 days, and young leave the nest after 17–21 days.

Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.

• Verdins don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, ponderosa pine, golden currant for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover verdins use:

Often visits hummingbird feeders in the desert.

• Best foods: Nectar, Suet.
• In California's winter: Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.

Full diet breakdown for verdins · Best feeder for verdins