A hint of orange-red is visible on the shoulders of the Verdin sitting on Littlejohn Bottlebrush. They find tiny insects in the blossoms. These tiny little songbirds are daily visitors in the desert garden.

Link to confirmed, more close-up observations showing the reddish shoulder patches: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194121654
and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143588682

Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) is a small 4.5 inch, active, native perching bird in the Penduline-Tits (Remizidae) family that inhabits arid scrub habitats. At 4.5 in (11 cm) in length, it rivals the American bushtit as one of the smallest passerines in North America. There are several subspecies. Verdins "are usually seen singly or in pairs, flitting about actively in the brush, sometimes giving sharp call notes. Finely pointed bills are adapted for catching small insects. Adult has gray plumage, reddish-chestnut shoulders and a yellow head. The birds may build several spherical nests. The primary nest has a small entry hole near the bottom. Other nests nearby are decoys to detract predators. Male Verdin may build several nests, with female choosing one to use for raising the young. Nest is placed well out on branches of thorny shrub or low tree, or in cholla cactus, usually 4-12' above the ground. Nest is a conspicuous hollow oval or sphere, surprisingly large for size of bird, made of thorny twigs. Entrance is low on one side; interior is well lined with feathers, grass, leaves, spiderwebs, for good insulation. Nests built late in spring tend to have entrance facing toward prevailing wind, maybe to help cool the interior. Occasionally visits hummingbird feeders for nectar, but primarily feeds on insects." They also enjoy ripe cut-in-half oranges.

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/verdin

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 386-387.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 296-297.

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/verdin/

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Auriparus-flaviceps

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name) and https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Verdin/

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php