House Wren
Winter Wren
His marital customs, which have just been brought to light of day, are to be talked of in lowered voice. Apparently there is no such thing as a faithful husband, or wife, for that matter, among the House Wren tribe. Mother or father may leave at any time and consequences will take care of themselves.
Hue and cry about the House Wren’s habit of puncturing the eggs of the other birds in the neighborhood seem not to be greatly affecting this sturdy, interesting little creature’s popularity.
WINTER WREN
Nannus troglodytes hiemalis (Vieillot)
Description.—A chubby, small wren, with ludicrously short tail. Upperparts deep brown, barred on wings and tail with black; buffy line over eye; underparts buffy, barred and speckled with black, whitish, and brown. Length: 4 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant from early April to mid-May and from mid-September to October 20 or later; a summer resident in the mountainous counties; occasional in winter.
Nest.—Of moss and plant-down, finely built, placed on or near the ground in a tree-trunk or mossy bank. Eggs: 5 to 7, white, thinly peppered with brown.
The remarkably long and rippling song of this diminutive bird will arouse interest and wonder at once. Catch sight of the mouse-like performer, and he may dive for the underbrush. The alarm-cry is a double-syllabled harsh note which resembles the throaty chup of a Song Sparrow. In migration, the Winter Wren will be seen about the roots of trees or along little streams; in summer, look for him in deep hemlock forests.
SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN
Cistothorus stellaris (Naumann)
Description.—Small, even for a wren. Upperparts brownish buffy, streaked with black and white; wings and tail barred; underparts white; under tail-coverts, flanks, and zone about breast, buffy brown. Length: 4 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A rare and local migrant and summer resident from early May to October.
Nest.—Spherical, of grasses, built on or near ground among grasses in marshy situations, the entrance to one side. Eggs: 5 to 8, white.
I have seen this bird in only a few places in Pennsylvania. It is to be looked for in grassy marshes, but does not seem to like cat-tails, preferring coarse, rank grass which grows in water or on damp ground. The song, as I heard it, sounded like dick, putt, jik, plick, tick, tick, tick. These wrens may be fairly common in a certain locality, but unless they are singing or are literally kicked from the grass, they will not be seen. All records are desirable.
