Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis), Morgan City Wash, Maricopa County

This Winter Wren was found and photographed by Tommy DeBardeleben on 18 November 2013

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, which were heard in the field.

18 November 2013, photo by Tommy DeBardeleben

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