Little green/yellow birds... >-|

[TomTelford]

Good morning,

Out feeding the local winged residents and enjoying a capuccino this morning and watching a very brave cardinal at the feeder when a very inquisitive little greenish bird popped into the lilac bush in front of me.  I was dreading the day when I would see a warbler/vireo/flycatcher and so the day has come.  Oh well.  

Of course I didn't have the camera so here's the description:  smaller than a chickadee, grey buff upper, light green buff breast, grey head with no markings but a prominent white eye ring, darker wings with promenent white/grey bars.  I'm 99.9% sure its one of the common flycatchers but which one?  The photos in my Smithsonian guide for the Acadian, Alder, Willow and Least look virtually identical to each other and my new bird.  I'm leaning towards the Least as it's quite common and has the prominent eye ring.

Any thoughts on how to tell them apart?

I didn't hear any calls from this bird although the rest of the denizens were making a racket, and I will try to append a photo if possible.

Thanks,

Tom.

[Brian Bailey]

It sounds like a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  Smaller than a Chickadee rules out flycatchers and vireos.  Kinglets tend to be very active, not staying in one place for more than a few seconds.

BB

[TomTelford]

Ah crap,  more of them...  I didn't even look at the kinglet.  It was very active, although very curious.  Came out on the closest branch to me about six feet away, gave me a looking over then back into the bush and eventually flew off.

Still hasn't returned.  Oh well...

Thanks,

Tom.