Mention "wren" and most Americans will think of a small, brownish, noisy bird that flits among their shrubs and woodpile during the warmer months. Of course, this would be the house wren, a common summer resident throughout much of the U.S. But its cousin, the winter wren, is less common and far less conspicuous.
This tiny bird breeds across Canada, the Great Lakes region, New England and down through the Appalachians, wintering in the Midwest, Southeast and along the Pacific Coast. Smaller than the house wren, it has a plump figure, accentuated by a short bill and very short tail. Despite its diminutive stature, the winter wren is known for its loud, clear, high pitched trills, which are often the only clue to the presence of this reclusive winter visitor.
Usually alone during the colder months, the winter wren is best found in thickets or dense tangles along ravines or stream beds. There it finds insects, snails and other small invertebrates on which to survive the lean season. Come late March, this hardy bird will depart for northern breeding grounds where it favors the understory of coniferous woodlands.
