Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2020-09
| Common name: |
Winter Wren |
| Scientific name: | Troglodytes hiemalis |
| Date: | 01-29-2020 |
| Time: | 3:00pm |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | ? |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Willard Bay State Park |
| County: | Box Elder |
| Latilong: | N 41.419216,-112.0564277 |
| Elevation: | 4250ft |
| Distance to bird: | 2-5m |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 binoculars |
| Weather: | sunny, 38F |
| Light Conditions: | good |
| Description: Size of bird: | 4 inches |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | plump and short tailed |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | rusty brown |
| (Description:) Bill Type: |
short thin-insectivor passerine |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
First heard the Wren, noted calls seemed different than a Pacific Wren, less scratchy more of a chump than a check. played the Winter Wren call on my iBird Pro app to compare and bring the bird in for a better look, noted very small rusty brown wren with a short tail, but noticed throat was rather pale with some whitish mottling, unlike the very rusty throat of the Pacific Wren.I immediately got a recording of the wren, and upon uploading and comparing the graph with other recordings on Macualay Library, confirmed what I suspected in the field that this was indeed a Winter Wren. I also managed a few photos |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Distinctive chump call given repeatedly, also sang briefly |
| Behavior: | Very active and sulky hiding in dense dogwood bushes along small creek |
| Habitat: | Riparian thickets along a small creek |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Pacific Wren is very similar, and indeed they were considered the same species until just a few years ago, but Pacific has a scratchier, higher and thinner call. Also typically they have a very rufous throat and breast. This Wren had a paler throat with some whitish mottling. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, I saw a Winter Wren in November 2018. I've seen many Pacific as well |
| References consulted: | iBird Pro app for recordings |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Vivian Schneggenburger and Lauri Taylor were with me |
| Date prepared: | 1-29-2020 |
| Additional material: | Photos Tape (eBird) |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist(with recording embedded): https://ebird.org/checklist/S63920048 |