My favorite bird is always whatever I'm looking at at any given moment. The most common visitors to my feeders are Anna's Hummingbirds, Northern Flickers, and Dark-eyed Juncos, with some occasional visits by House Finches and Bewick's Wrens. I love watching them all.
Hi Tess,
A lot of people bird by ear. Oftentimes it helps identify a bird before you can see it, or if the visual cues aren't enough to figure out based on your field guide. It is a skill I wish I was better at.