Mount a small hook and start orange silk about one eye-length behind the eye; wind smooth touching turns back to just short of the bend.
Return the thread forward to build a very slim, sparse body of bare orange silk, stopping about two eye-lengths short of the eye. Keep it wispy. This is a slim needle fly.
If using the optional head, tie in a single strand of peacock herl at the front of the silk body and take one turn to form a tiny dark thorax; tie off and trim.
Select a small, dark starling feather; the fibers should be short, reaching only to about the hook point.
Strip the base fluff, tie the feather in by its tip with the concave side toward you, and take just one turn of hackle, stroking the fibers back; tie off and trim.
Build a tiny silk head, whip finish, and add a touch of clear varnish.