Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis), Bill Williams River NWR, La Paz County

This Winter Wren was discovered and photographed by Lauren Harter on 30 November 2012.

Winter Wren has been split into two species, the eastern Winter Wren and the western Pacific Wren. Since they have only been recently split, their distribution in Arizona is poorly known. Pacific Wren is thought to be the more regular of the two forms in Arizona and Winter Wren was thought to be a rare visitor. However, there have been about equal numbers of both species reported since the split, so we may be learning that Winter Wren is more regular than previously thought.

Pacific Wren is typically warmer brown below, especially on the throat. The white tips on the undertail coverts and wing coverts are good for Winter Wren, as are the pale whitish bars on the primaries. Song Sparrow-like calls are diagnostic for Winter Wren (Sound recordings were also obtained).

30 November 2012, photo by Lauren Harter

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