Guys guys guys guys guys!

[conuly]

I went out to feed the birds, and one intrepid little bird just hung out on the suet feeder instead of flying away when I opened the door, and just stayed there as I filled the tray feeders! Brave little guy!

But... I can't figure out what bird it is. It was sparrow-sized, teeny eyes, a somewhat yellowy beige all over and a light yellowy-greeny stomach.

I just don't think it's any of these, and the ones that look most similar to this brave little bird don't appear to overwinter in NY anyway.

Next time I go out I'll bring my phone, see if I can catch a photo.

Comments

[dewline]

Okay. Good luck!

[redbird]

Eliminating the birds you've already looked at on the birdwatchinghq.com site, Cornell suggests maybe a yellow-throated viero, palm warbler, or orange-crowned warbler: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/search/?q=yellow%20bird%20winter%20new%20york%20city

[jhetley]

Sounds like a winter goldfinch, but I suspect you have already eliminated that as a suspect.

[movingfinger]

I agree, that sounds like an American goldfinch, probably female, in winter. Pine warbler (streakier) and kinglet are outlier possibilities---but in New York, the odds of an outlier bird turning up on its way somewhere else are not low, although kinglets are noticeably smaller than sparrows.

The bold behavior is wrenlike, but goldfinches can also be brave, especially if they're rewarded with a private suet meal with no competition!

[adafrog]

Cool.