Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2023-10
| Common name: |
Winter Wren |
| Scientific name: | Troglodytes hiemalis |
| Date: | 1/12/23 |
| Time: | 9:30am |
| Length of time observed: | 15min |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | AHY |
| Sex: | N/A |
| Location: | Red Butte Garden |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | 40.7694827, -111.8225162 |
| Elevation: | 5043' |
| Distance to bird: | 10 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Swarovski NL 8x43, Canon 60D w/ 70-200 IS lens and Rode VideoMicro microphone |
| Weather: | Partially cloudy, cold |
| Light Conditions: | Partially cloudy |
| Description: Size of bird: | Very small |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Plump with short tail |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Brownish overall |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Medium length and thin |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Tiny size and short, cocked up tail are indicative of
both Winter and Pacific Wren which are nearly identical. This bird was
warmer brown than most Winter Wrens I've seen but didn't have any
reddish tinge like seen in Pacific Wrens. More contrasting chest and
throat than seen in Pacific Wren. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Was giving its distinctive jip-jip call that is very similar to Song Sparrows but lower pitched than similar calls heard in Pacific Wren. It was calling at the same time as a Song Sparrow so it was interesting to hear the minor contrasts in the call. |
| Behavior: | Very skulky bird that spent most of its time near the ground foraging low. Would occasionally pop up and give good looks before dropping back down into the undergrowth. |
| Habitat: | Creekside riparian with thick undergrowth near the stream with lots of Mahonia and dogwood |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Pacific Wrens are nearly identical but have a less contrasting plumage and more reddish overall. The calls are much different from Winter Wrens and don't have a call that sounds like the jip-jip the Winter Wren was giving. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Very familiar with this species from growing up with western NY where they were a fairly common migrant and a rare breeder in my home county. I even got to hold one once when trying to get one out of my house that my family's cat brought in (my family wouldn't listen to me and keep the cats indoors), |
| References consulted: | Sibleys 2nd edition, Peterson's Field Guide to Bird Sounds |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Kenny Frisch |
| Observer's address: | 4609 S Wallce Ln Holladay, UT 84117 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | N/A |
| Date prepared: | 2/27/23 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |
Photos and recordings of this bird can be found on this ebird
checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S125999839. |