This bird was tiny and elusive, but I finally managed to get a shot of what I confirmed is a Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) today at Huntley Meadows Park. The Winter Wren is smaller—about 3-4 inches (8-11 mm) in length—and has darker markings on its belly than the Carolina Wrens that I am more accustomed to seeing.
The description of this bird found on the website of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology matches perfectly the behavior I observed today. “It habitually holds its tiny tail straight up and bounces up and down. This rather weak flier hops and scampers among fallen logs mouselike, inspecting upturned roots and vegetation for insects.”
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
What a beautiful wee bird!
Thanks, Liz.
It occurred to me today that photographing these very small, active birds may become easier in winter, when there’s less foliage for them to hide in.
It certainly does help that the leaves are mostly gone from the trees, though some birds still insist on staying high in the trees. The birds remain really active, so it is a challenge to photograph them, even when I can see them. Some birds have left for the winter, but the good news is that some others have come to our area to overwinter.
Wonderful and cheerful photo. Great composition. A lot of interest.
Thanks, Penny-Ann. I had to chase the little wren for quite a while before I was able to get it to perch out in the open. At that time, I was mostly focused on just getting any shot. I was thrilled when it turned out so well.
It must be hard to spot on the ground. He’s a cutie.
When I am running around trying to get shots of hyperactive little birds like this one, I am usually hoping that nobody is filming me, because I am sure that it would be amusing and/or embarrassing to watch.
I remember watching a guy in Great River Park who looked like he was dancing on the shore at 6:00 am. Later I realized he was trying to get a picture of the Heron that feeds there.
I am guilty of being “that guy,” though I must say that I have no rhythm. Now, alas, I have the lyrics of George Michael’s song “Careless Whisper” running through my head–as you may recall the lyrics state that “Guilty feet have got no rhythm…” I was never sure what that meant and I still don’t have a clue.
Great photo!
Thanks, Dan. As you undoubtedly understand well, there is always a considerable amount of luck involved in getting a shot like this. Sometimes the bird will cooperate, but often they remain hidden.