Photo Credit: Brad Imhoff – Macaulay Library

Winter Wren

Troglodytes hiemalis

Compiled by Liam Molina

The Winter Wren is a small, round, plump bird most commonly found in areas near streams. These birds can be easily identified by their short, thin bills; subtly patterned brown plumage; and tail, which is always cocked at an angle. Despite its small stature, this bird sports a bold call, with males having a beautiful bird song composed of dozens of bell-like notes lasting up to 10 seconds. Both males and females perform a call similar to that of the Song Sparrow, performing the call more frequently when agitated. 

These birds have a diverse diet but prefer to eat spiders, caterpillars, beetles, and flies, though they have been observed eating berries on certain occasions. While on the hunt for food, the wren energetically hops around on the ground, looking through upturned roots and decayed logs. They fly short distances with incredibly rapid wingbeats, ducking in between cover in the understory. During courtship, males sing from perches, flutter their wings, and cock their tails. Afterwards, they’ll show females various nests they’ve built within their territory until the female chooses one, laying five to eight speckled eggs. 

Winter Wrens have had relatively stable population trends from 1966 to 2019 and are common throughout their range, with an estimated 11-million global breeding population. However, with their habitat primarily composed of old-growth forests, logging and habitat destruction can pose a significant risk to these birds. The Winter Wren is currently one of the community targets on Ebird.org, so if you see one out on the trail be sure to log your sighting!

Sources: Ebird.org, All About Birds, Wikipedia

Photo Credits: Brad Imhoff, Paul Jones, and Fyn Kynd