Verdin is my guess.

Not a verdin; they're smaller still. I think a finch of some stripe. It is common for them to have lots of variants in their coloration so this may be a common yellow house finch with that splash of raspberry on its wings.

Here is a link that might be useful: house finch

This verdin pic I found has that raspberry wing spot.

Well, it's not an owl or a hawk. (grin) I have to cover my tomato plants when the fruit starts to blush. We have more birds in the yard than we see when we go camping in the woods!! JoAnn's has netting that works really well, secured with clothespins. Very high tech. Unsightly but I hate losing tomatoes to the birds. At least your little guy went back to one he'd already started on.

Still don't think it's a verdin, but here's another two shots of a verdin that are just too pretty to pass up. I have both finches and verdins in my yard and maybe it *was* the finch that made those holes in my green tomatoes! The verdins never bother plants; they feed on aphids and other insects - which is why I *love* those little guys.

Here is a link that might be useful: beautiful verdin

You guys are FAST! Thanks for the help. I think Verdin may be it.

Mary, I had my tomatoes covered with some bird netting earlier, when they were first getting ripe and the plants were still putting on a lot of growth. I think for next year we will build a structure that will make it easier to cover with the netting. Just draping it over didn't work very well. Gotta figure out something that doesn't violate HOA CC&Rs. What I have now is a raised planter and as you can see in the video, a piece of cattle fencing to support the plants. I really like this fencing, it's perfect for the job to support the plants and allow access to the fruit. It's perfect for the bird to access the fruit, too. My San Marzanos are left unmolested for the most part, maybe because the plant is in a pot, the branches are sprawling unsupported and the fruit is mostly hanging under them. It's harder for a bird to watch for predators, to reach the fruit, and to get in and out. If I see holes they are only on fruit that is more exposed. The good news is that these are also my best tasting tomatoes. :)

It's either a vireo or a verdin.

Another pic of a verdin from the Desert Botanical Garden in Tempe.

Here is a link that might be useful: Arizona Verdin

It's a verdin -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdin

They aren't eating the tomato as much as they are drinking the juice that accumulates on the damaged fruit. Usually the initial damage is caused by a curve-bill thrasher, and other birds visit to get a drink.

I found that leaving the damaged fruit kept them from damaging any others as long as that fruit was still oozing juice.

Providing a water source for them would be even better.

I do have water in very shallow containers (terracotta saucers) for the birds that I fill in the morning and then refresh in the afternoon. Saw this about verdins:

They feed on insects, insect larvae, insect eggs, spiders, seeds and berries. They get their water from eating the insects and fruit.

I allow one or two well-behaved nightshade volunteers to grow that bear little dark juicy berries that the birds love, but this guy seem to prefer the tomatoes. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Verdin Birdinginformation.com

My garden feeds lots and lots of these little guys.

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