Winter Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes

The Winter Wren is a tiny bird of dense forest undergrowth, often staying out of sight as they forage along the ground through thickets and fallen logs.  While often difficult to spot, during breeding season the males will sometimes flit up to higher perches to sing extremely long complex songs, lasting 6-8 seconds or more and consisting of over a hundred separate notes.

Habitat: During the summer breeding season, they are primarily found in moist conifer forests with a dense understory, often near water.  They winter in similar forest habitats with dense understories, although they will use deciduous and mixed forests as well as conifer forests.

Diet: Primarily feeds on insects and spiders, as well as snails, millipedes, tiny fish, and berries.

Behavior: Often forages low in dense thickets and undergrowth, in vegetation and also along the ground.  They may also occasionally forage along streams and pick items from the water's surface.

Breeding: Non-breeder in South Dakota

Song:  A very high-pitched notes with rapid trilling interspersed.  Click here to listen to the Winter Wren's song.  Click here for the Winter Wren's call.

Migration: They are permanent residents along the Pacific Coast, all the way up to through the southern coast of Alaska, as well as in portions of the Appalachians.  Elsewhere, they summer in the southern half of Canada, the Great Lakes region, and New England.  They winter in the eastern U.S. as far north as Illinois, Ohio, and New York and southward to the Gulf Coast.  Note that they are also found in Europe.

Similar Species: House Wren

Conservation Status: Numbers appear to be stable.

Further Information: 1) Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Winter Wren

2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Winter Wren

3) eNature.com: Winter Wren

Photo Information: Out-of-state photo, Courtesy of Norman Smith.