Since WordPress core version 5.4 release date: March 31st, 2020, there’s a odd image file lurking on your site.
wp-includes/images/w-logo-blue-white-bg.png

Can you believe it? WordPress redirects requests for favicon.ico to /wp/wp-admin/images/w-logo-blue.png. Dirty rats!

What does this thing do?

It’s branding for WordPress. It has nothing to do with you.

REFERENCE: https://wordpress.org/support/topic/favicon-is-changed-in-version-5-4/

Want to get rid of the silly thing? There’s a plugin for that:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
WP Favicon Remover

Load Time: 50 milliseconds

The WP Favicon Remover plugin lets you remove the WordPress default favicon added to WordPress core version 5.4. If the favicon doesn’t change after plugin installation, clear your browser cache. If you add a Site Icon via Theme Customizer, uninstall this plugin. You don’t need it anymore.

Don’t know what the heck a favicon is? Here’s some bedtime reading to help put you to sleep:

REFERENCE: https://sympli.io/blog/heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-favicons-in-2020/

REFERENCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favicon

REFERENCE: https://pagepipe.com/how-to-make-the-fastest-loading-favicon-for-mobile-first-speed/

NOTE: Miraculously, the extra WordPress logo doesn’t load on mobile devices. Just on desktop and tablet browsers.