Overview

Winter Wren: Tiny wren with barred, dark brown upperparts and pale eyebrows. Brown underparts heavily barred on flanks, belly, and undertail. Tail is short. Bill is dark brown. Legs and feet are brown. Only member of the wren family found outside the Americas, occuring in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Range and Habitat

Winter Wren: Breeds from Alaska and British Columbia east through southern Canada to Newfoundland, and south to California, northern Idaho, the Great Lakes region, and southern New England, and in the mountains to Georgia. Spends winters across much of the southern U.S. south to southern California, the Gulf Coast, and Florida. Dense tangles and thickets in coniferous and mixed forests are preferred habitats.

Breeding and Nesting

Winter Wren: Four to seven white eggs with brown flecks on large end are laid in a bulky nest made of twigs and moss, with an entrance on the side, lined with softer material, and often concealed among upturned roots of a fallen tree. Incubation ranges from 12 to 16 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Winter Wren: Feeds on insects and other small invertebrates; forages on the ground and along banks of streams.

Readily Eats

Apple Slices, Peanut Butter

Vocalization

Winter Wren: Song is a high-pitched, varied, and rapid series of musical trills and chatters. The call note is an explosive "kit" or "kit-kit."

Similar Species

Winter Wren: Sedge Wren is streaked with white on crown and back. Rock Wren is larger with contrasting gray back and brown rump, and has buff tail tip.