A Look at Wrens

~House Wren, Stewart Forest SP, Orange County NY. Photo by Bill Fiero.

GUEST POST BY BILL FIERO

We’re all familiar with our neighborhood wrens, House, Carolina, Winter, Marsh, and Sedge. Of the 5, Winter and Carolina Wrens are resident, while the House, Marsh, and Sedge Wrens are summer breeders in our area.  There are actually 88 species of wren occurring throughout North and South America, occupying a number of habitats, and are excellent songsters more often heard than seen.  There is, however, one species that occurs in the old world, the Eurasian Wren, largely resident throughout Europe and Asia. Eurasian Wrens had previously been considered the same species as our Winter Wren, but it has recently been split into 3 separate species (‘Winter Wren’ in the eastern US, ‘Pacific Wren’, in the west, and ‘Eurasian Wren’ in the old world).  As classification methods improve, we can expect more changes in our understanding of the relationships between familiar birds. Perhaps an increase in ‘armchair lifers’?

~Eurasian Wren in County Galway, Ireland 07/07/18. Photo by Matt Z.~
~Carolina Wren, photo by Bill Fiero.~

3 thoughts on “A Look at Wrens”

  1. Matt, thanks for the spot! It was fun to do. Great shot of the Eurasian; they never stood still for me.

    1. Anytime Bill, I know you have more posts in you; I hope you feel willing to share. I was happy you mentioned the Eurasian in your post so I could use my pic! Thanks again for your contribution. Matt

Comments are closed.