Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis), upper Butte Creek, Trail 321, Prescott NF, Arizona, Yavapai County

This Winter Wren was discovered and photographed by Zach Smith on 23 October 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 and white spots on the back point toward Eastern Winter Wren rather than Pacific which would be darker overall.

23 October 2012, photo by Zach Smith

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