Evening star., 1944-11-07
This and That
By Charles E. TrnceUeH.

BETHESDA, Md.
Dear Sir:
Just recently saw very small
wren-like creature on q bush-it was
even smaller than the housewren. I
have had plenty of Jenny Wren and her
family in the yard, so know that this
bird was not of her brood.
There was sort of line over the eye,
and the bird had a really absurd tail,
tilted at a big angle-I am sure that 1t
was not house wren.
THE question Is, what was 1t? I
know you can tell me. and so am writing
to you for the answer
Faithfully yours, E. Med"
\ 4
The bird no doubt was the winter
wren.
This is one Of our smallest birds.
greatly resembling a house wren, but
smaller, and with both the character
istics noted by our correspondent.
There is brownish- buff line over the
winter wrens eye. No house wren has
this mark
The tip-tilted tail goes even farther
up than the tail of the common wren.
The song, too, is different, and mostly
AtOAAA AZ" PAdSC, ouCIl dS SuTuD.
Jenny Wren is just as likely to give its
bubbly song from a tree.
The winter wren is classed as fairly
common winter visitant, arriving here
usually early in October, and remaining
until the latter part of April.
Ihey have been seen, however, as
early as September IS, and as late as
May /.
1t is interesting to note that a form
OF this wren Is called the Alaska wren,
and still another form the Aleutian or
Attu wren, names which have been in
the news. These are both larger than
our winter wren. Still two more forms
are known, both large, the Western
winter wren and the Kodiak winter
wren. Such regional variations are
somewhat common in most bird species,
the usual differences being in size and
color. Sometimes regional variation
will be larger and darker, and sometimes
larger and paler. Probably weather is
the great influence
Our winter wren is only inches long.
His upper parts are reddish brown: his
under parts, paler brown, with dusky
markings. The nest Is usually in stump.
or in the roots of some tree which has
been uprooted. The number of eggs laid
range from five 10 eight. They are pretty
little creations, creamy white, dotted
with tiny points Of lavender and brown.
\ y
Other wrens which come here are
the Carolina wren, which often remains
the year around Bewicks wren which
is sometimes seen in summer, and the
short-billed and long -billed marsh wrens.
The short-billed is rare in migration.
but the long-billed wren is often seen
near the Potomac River and the Eastern
branch. A few may be found in winter.
The Carolina wren is 5h inches in
length. making it gigantic for wren.
It is favorite of most persons who are
acquainted with 1t.
Its song is of whirling character.
somehow reminding one of the "pinni-
wheels" which children use to make out
OF stth paper, and putnpn q stick with
pin. When presented to the wind,
the pin-wheel went around. There is
something Of this same going around
character to the loud clear song Of the
Carolina wren. It Is often heard in
the fall and winter At times 1t even
mocks the calls Of other birds, includ-
ing the whistle Of the titmouse and the
spring song OF the cardinal.
The short-billed marsh wren builds
two nests, but uses only one. This is not
an uncommon bird trait, probably done
as deception to throw predatory birds
and animals on the trail The short
billed wren. however, makes it usual
thing.
Bewick's wren Is q Southern species
which does not often come to this
locality. and when It does It seldom
makes Z nest
The wrens, rs class, are very nne
birds to have around, for though small
they have many children and the
feeding Of these requires vast amount
of Insect food.