North American field guide
Winter Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
Also known as:Northern Wren
Identification
Field notes
10 cm (4") Uncommon. Secretive and well camouflaged in brush piles and dead trees, cedar swamps and spruce bogs.
Told from similar House Wren by its smaller size, darker and more barred belly, very short tail and voice.
Moves like a mouse low to the ground.
The "Bach of the bird world". Heard more often than seen.
Song: long, beautiful, complex series of tinkling notes; an amazing performance for such a small bird.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Winter Wren
Credit: Larry BondWinter Wren Singing
Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy ProductionsWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 3 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Winter Wren
3 rulesRule 1 15 criteria · confidence 4
- Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?
- No · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- Dark and light bands across it · None · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- Was the BELLY STREAKED or BARRED ?
- Yes · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- Was the HEAD striped ?
- No · Unknown
- What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
- What type of environment was the bird seen in?
- Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat
Rule 2 4 criteria · confidence 4
- What TAIL BEHAVIOURS if any were noted ?
- Pointing upward or cocked over its back
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Identify from a Unique Behaviour
- What type of environment was the bird seen in?
- Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Open body of freshwater · Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff
Rule 3 4 criteria · confidence 4
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
- List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?
- Bobbing the head, tail, or whole body up and down
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Identify from a Unique Behaviour
- What type of environment was the bird seen in?
- Thickets or shrubs · Deciduous forest · Coniferous forest · Mixed forest · Wooded freshwater habitat