The **Winter Wren** (*Troglodytes hiemalis*) is a small North American bird belonging to the wren family (*Troglodytidae*). Here are some key details about this delightful little bird:
– **Appearance**:
– Plump, round body with a stubby tail that it usually holds straight up.
– Brown overall, with darker barring on the wings, tail, and belly.
– Pale tan eyebrow stripe above the eye and a plain brown cap.
– Unmarked throat and barred belly are paler than the back.
– Larger than a Ruby-throated Hummingbird but smaller than a Carolina Wren.
– Constantly bobs its entire body while nervously looking around in the forest understory.
– In flight, it rapidly beats its tiny wings to move short distances between cover.
– **Habitat**:
– Found in deciduous and evergreen forests with plenty of downed logs, standing dead trees, larger trees, and understory vegetation.
– Often more common in areas near streams.
– **Behavior**:
– Energetic and secretive, it creeps about among fallen logs and dense tangles, behaving more like a mouse than a bird.
– Its astoundingly loud song echoes through the tangled understory of eastern forests.
Remember, the Winter Wren is a tiny ball of energy with a huge voice! 🎶