Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis), Holy Trinity Monastery, Cochise County

This wren was discovered by Arlene Ripley on 26 December 2012 and identified as a Winter Wren by Rick Taylor on 27 December 2012.  It was photographed by Andrew Core on 27 December 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.

Pale throat, chest and supercilium help differentiate from Pacific Wren. This bird was also calling (and singing!).

27 December 2012, photo by Andrew Core

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