An extremely small (4 inches) wren, the Winter Wren is most easily identified by its plain brown back, streaked breast, extremely short tail (often held up at an angle), short bill, and faint white eye-stripes. This species may be distinguished from the similar Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) by that species’ paler plumage and from the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) by that species’ larger size. Male and female Winter Wrens are similar to one another in all seasons. The Winter Wren breeds from southern Alaska and Canada south at higher elevations to California and Georgia in the western and eastern United States, respectively. In winter, northerly-breeding populations migrate south to the eastern U.S. and the interior west. Populations breeding at the southern end of this species’ breeding range are non-migratory. Winter Wrens breed in a variety of habitats, including evergreen forests, river edges, and (in the northern part of this species’ range) rocky islands. During the winter, this species may be found further south or at lower elevations in evergreen or deciduous woodland. Winter Wrens exclusively eat small insects. In appropriate habitat, Winter Wrens may be seen foraging for food on the ground or in the branches of bushes and shrubs. Birdwatchers may also listen for this species’ song, a rapid series of high-pitched warbled notes. Winter Wrens are most active during the day, but, like many migratory songbirds, this species migrates at night.
An extremely small (4 inches) wren, the Winter Wren is most easily identified by its plain brown back, streaked breast, extremely short tail (often held up at an angle), short bill, and faint white eye-stripes. This species may be distinguished from the similar Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) by that species’ paler plumage and from the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) by that species’ larger size. Male and female Winter Wrens are similar to one another in all seasons. The Winter Wren breeds from southern Alaska and Canada south at higher elevations to California and Georgia in the western and eastern United States, respectively. In winter, northerly-breeding populations migrate south to the eastern U.S. and the interior west. Populations breeding at the southern end of this species’ breeding range are non-migratory. Winter Wrens breed in a variety of habitats, including evergreen forests, river edges, and (in the northern part of this species’ range) rocky islands. During the winter, this species may be found further south or at lower elevations in evergreen or deciduous woodland. Winter Wrens exclusively eat small insects. In appropriate habitat, Winter Wrens may be seen foraging for food on the ground or in the branches of bushes and shrubs. Birdwatchers may also listen for this species’ song, a rapid series of high-pitched warbled notes. Winter Wrens are most active during the day, but, like many migratory songbirds, this species migrates at night.
The winter wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) is a very small North American bird and a member of the mainly New World wren family Troglodytidae. It was once lumped with the Pacific wren (Troglodytes pacificus) of western North America and the Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) of Eurasia under the name winter wren.
It breeds in coniferous forests from British Columbia to the Atlantic Ocean. It migrates through and winters across southeastern Canada, the eastern half the United States and (rarely) north-eastern Mexico. Small numbers may be casual in the western United States and Canada.
The scientific name is taken from the Greek word troglodytes (from "trogle" a hole, and "dyein" to creep), meaning "cave-dweller", and refers to its habit of disappearing into cavities or crevices while hunting arthropods or to roost.
The winter wren was described and illustrated in 1808 by the American ornithologist Alexander Wilson. He was uncertain as to whether the wren should be considered as a separate species or as a subspecies of the Eurasian wren.[2] When the French Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot described the winter wren in 1819 he considered it as a separate species and coined the current binomial name Troglodytes hiemalis.[3] The specific epithet is Latin and means "of winter".[4] The type locality was restricted to Nova Scotia by Harry C. Oberholser in 1902.[5][6]
The winter wren was formerly considered to be conspecific with the Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) and the Pacific wren (Troglodytes pacificus).[7][8] The Eurasian wren was split from the two North American species based on a study of mitochondrial DNA published in 2007.[9] A study published in 2008 of the songs and genetics of individuals in an overlap zone between Troglodytes hiemalis and Troglodytes pacificus found strong evidence of reproductive isolation between the two. It was suggested that the pacificus subspecies be promoted to the species level designation of Troglodytes pacificus with the common name of "Pacific wren".[10] By applying a molecular clock to the amount of mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence between the two, it was estimated that Troglodytes pacificus and Troglodytes troglodytes last shared a common ancestor approximately 4.3 million years ago, long before the glacial cycles of the Pleistocene, which are thought to have promoted speciation in many avian systems inhabiting the boreal forest of North America.[10][11]
Two subspecies are recognised:[7]
Small tail is often cocked above its back, and short neck gives the appearance of a small brown ball. Rufous brown above, grayer below, barred with darker brown and gray, even on wings and tail. The bill is dark brown, the legs pale brown. Young birds are less distinctly barred. Most are identifiable by the pale "eyebrows" over their eyes.
Measurements:[12]
The winter wren nests mostly in coniferous forests, especially those of spruce and fir, where it is often identified by its long and exuberant song. Although it is an insectivore, it can remain in moderately cold and even snowy climates by foraging for insects on substrates such as bark and fallen logs.
Its movements as it creeps or climbs are incessant rather than rapid; its short flights swift and direct but not sustained, its tiny round wings whirring as it flies from bush to bush.
At night, usually in winter, it often roosts, true to its scientific name, in dark retreats, snug holes and even old nests. In hard weather it may do so in parties, either consisting of the family or of many individuals gathered together for warmth.
The male builds a small number of nests. These are called "cock nests" but are never lined until the female chooses one to use. The normal round nest of grass, moss, lichens or leaves is tucked into a hole in a wall, tree trunk, crack in a rock or corner of a building, but it is often built in bushes, overhanging boughs or the litter which accumulates in branches washed by floods. Five to eight white or slightly speckled eggs are laid in April, and second broods are reared.
For the most part insects and spiders are its food, but in winter large pupae and some seeds are taken.
The winter wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) is a very small North American bird and a member of the mainly New World wren family Troglodytidae. It was once lumped with the Pacific wren (Troglodytes pacificus) of western North America and the Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) of Eurasia under the name winter wren.
It breeds in coniferous forests from British Columbia to the Atlantic Ocean. It migrates through and winters across southeastern Canada, the eastern half the United States and (rarely) north-eastern Mexico. Small numbers may be casual in the western United States and Canada.
The scientific name is taken from the Greek word troglodytes (from "trogle" a hole, and "dyein" to creep), meaning "cave-dweller", and refers to its habit of disappearing into cavities or crevices while hunting arthropods or to roost.
.jpg)
