Wingspan Gameplay | Just how good is Noisy Miner? 

You are greatly undervaluing tucks. Tucks are worth 1 point, birds in the hand are worth zero points. In order to turn birds in the hand into points you have to spend a turn (the most valuable resource in the game) eggs (worth points as well) and food. Tucks don't cost a turn or any resources. Even if you are certain you would play both cards anyways, a tuck plus 3 points is worth the same as 4 points. The cost of the bird isn't a big deal in this game situation, since he had great food access all game. In fact, sometimes being able to spend more nectar can be advantageous in Oceania games, so you can earn more nectar points. Unless you are in the final round, the ability of a bird is typically more important than the face value. Abilities can gain many potential points in the future. Do you have a time stamp for the specific play you are referring to? I'm curious to see the birds you are referring to.

@tylerhloewen , it's at 33:50. In general all your points are valid but in this specific case not so much I think. Yes, it's the same number of points but chat is safer if you get an unfortunate feeder roll. It only costs one worm, which you already have, as opposed to the two wheat for goldfinch. Also, it frees up your tuck on the coot. If you don't pick chat you have to take the goldfinch from the tray. If you pick up chat, you can use the remaining coot tuck to draw from the deck and potentially find something better to play. The nectar doesn't matter here, bc grassland nectar is already lost, regardless if you spend 1 or 2.

@@user-fg8uf3gu3y Yes, I agree with you in this case. Flan played sub-optimally.

I’ll chime in and say I started chewing my nails when he discarded the fish and trusted the feeder to give him 4 of the right food on one turn after tucking the Chat

Glad to see I’m not crazy for thinking the chat was the right play. It would also allow for a gamble from the top deck, as opposed to picking up the goldfinch.