Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 5.1 in
13 cm - Weight
- 0.3–0.4 oz
8–12 g
Other Names
- Troglodyte de Bewick (French)
- Chivirín cola obscura (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The severe declines of Bewick's Wren in the eastern United States coincided with range expansion in the House Wren. It is suspected that the House Wren, which frequently removes eggs from nests in cavities, was directly responsible for the decline. The increased availability of nest boxes may have helped the spread of the House Wren, and therefore the decline of the Bewick's Wren.
- The male Bewick's Wren learns its song while still on the parents' territory. It learns the song not from its father, but rather from the neighboring territorial males. The song repertoire developed before the first winter is retained for life.
Habitat
Open Woodland
Found in brushy areas, scrub and thickets in open country, riparian woodland, chaparral, urban and suburban parks, and residential areas.
Food
Insects
Insects and spiders.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 3–8 eggs
- Egg Description
- White with varying amount of dark spotting, often concentrated around large end.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless with only wisps of down.
Nest Description
Nest a cup in a cavity or on a shelf, although may be domed. Made of sticks, leaves, moss, spider egg cases, feathers, and hair, often lined with snake skin. Uses nest boxes.
Nest Placement
Cavity
Behavior
Ground Forager
Gleans insects from leaves and lower branches of shrubs.
Conservation
Least Concern
Increased range into upper Midwest and along western Appalachians in mid-19th century. Eastern portion of population underwent severe decline starting in early 20th century and continuing through the 1990's. Eastern populations are nearly gone, with only a few scattered breeding locations left. For a discussion of the decline of the eastern birds, illustrated with data from the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, click here.
Credits
- Kennedy, E. D., and D. W. White. 1997. Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii). In The Birds of North America, No. 315 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.