Wren in winter

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Wren in winter

February 10, 2022 by Mike Powell

Throughout most of the year, if I am fortunate enough to spot a wren, it is likely to be a Carolina Wren. During the cold months, though, there is a chance that I may find a Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis), a species that overwinters in my area. I have been trying to photograph one all winter and finally on Tuesday I managed to get a couple of shots of one during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

I really like the way the Audubon Guide to North American Birds describes the Winter Wren, “A secretive little bird of dense woods. It often creeps about among fallen logs and dense tangles, behaving more like a mouse than a bird, remaining out of sight but giving an occasional kimp-kimp callnote.” It is quite amazing to watch this energetic little bird as is crawls in and out of the undergrowth, rarely popping into view.

Normally Winter Wrens appear to be rather plump and round, as you can see in the second image. Something attracted the wren’s attention when I was taking the first shot that caused it to stretch out a bit, giving the bird a longer, more lanky look. The first shot also gives you a pretty good look at the varied patterns in the plumage of a Winter Wren—when the wren is in the shadows it looks to be a solid brown color, but there are actually a lot of speckles and stripes.

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Canon 50D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Troglodytes hiemalis, Winter Wren, Woodbridge VA | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on February 10, 2022 at 8:19 am | Reply Eliza Waters

Nice shots, Mike. I really like the light in the first one and you’ve captured a bit of its personality.
- on February 10, 2022 at 9:06 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eliza. It was so unusual to see a winter wren with its head lifted up–most of the time they have their heads pointed down as they poke about in the undergrowth. I think that a clear view of its eye helped me to capture its personality. The light was pretty strong at the moment when I took the shot, so I had to worry about blowing out the highlights, but it sure did give some nice side lighting.
on February 10, 2022 at 8:19 am | Reply Mitzy Bricker

Adorable

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on February 10, 2022 at 9:03 am | Reply kenneturner

Nice shots, Mike. The cactus wren here in the desert is larger and can usually be seen perched on top of saguaros, or in cholla cactus where they usually build their nests.
- on February 10, 2022 at 9:17 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, kenne. I have long admired your cactus wren shots–the combination of a cactus wren and a saguaro can’t be beaten, like this one, for example. https://kenneturner.com/2020/01/14/cactus-wren-5/
on February 10, 2022 at 9:26 am | Reply whatnext108146aea41f

Great shots! I’m sure that those guys are hard to capture.
on February 10, 2022 at 10:59 am | Reply Louella Lester

I must say, I like the second shot with the round wren. 😊
on February 10, 2022 at 12:42 pm | Reply Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

Don’t think I have ever seen one, thanks.
- on February 10, 2022 at 4:16 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  The range maps suggest that you might be within the non-breeding range for this species, so keep your eyes open. 🙂
  - on February 10, 2022 at 5:44 pm Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography
    
    Thanks. I could mistake them for one of the regulars here. I’m not much on small bird ID.
on February 10, 2022 at 2:23 pm | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

It is so interesting to see the two different shapes of the bird in its two different postures.
- on February 10, 2022 at 4:17 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Laura. Some of the round little birds seem to have no necks, but when they stretch out it is obvious that they do have them. 🙂