Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis), Patagonia Lake State Park, Santa Cruz County

This Winter Wren was found by Richard Fray along/near the Birding Trail at the east end of Patagonia Lake on 11/24/2014. Laurens Halsey & Louise Bator photographed & audio recorded it on the 11/26.

Since being split, the eastern Winter Wren and the western Pacific Wren have posed a formidable challenge for birders in determining definitive ID, visually. Although Pacific Wren is thought to be the expected of the two species in Arizona, Winter Wren continues to be reported regularly across the state, sometimes in equal numbers to Pacific Wrens. However, this pattern seems to vary year to year.

Overall, Winter Wren tends to exhibit a variable patterned underside with a lighter/pale throat contrasting with darkly barred flanks, as compared to Pacific Wren that tend to have a more uniform dark, chestnut-rufous throat continuing through its breast and underside. Showing of conspicuous white tips on the wing coverts on this bird are arguably good for Winter Wren, as well. Determination is best made by call, and this bird was giving calls matching the calls of Winter Wren.

26 November 2014, photo by Laurens Halsey

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