Bewick’s Wrens

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This spring, for the first time, a pair of Bewick’s Wrens, Thryomanes bewickii, have built a nest in a husband-made birdhouse which hangs just outside the enclosed catio. Each adult has contributed to the nest with oak catkins, clusters of small twigs, and feathers. What goes on in the house during the nesting, I’m not privy to observing.

Bewick’s wrens have never spent time in my garden, building nests or otherwise. The go-to wrens for my garden have always been Carolina Wrens, who are absent this spring, though I hear their songs and calls in other parts of the neighborhood. Both species of wrens sing beautifully, with a variety of songs, chirps, and calls in their repertoire. Bewick’s males songs are particularly delightful and melodic.

During the most active part of the nest building, plenty of warning calls have sounded when the cats are in the catio, hunkered down, staring intently and entranced with the wren activity. The wrens remain wary, though they seem to understand that they’re safe from the feline predators. Still, they issue their warnings and state their objections to the cats’ presence, just to make their points.

Wren activity has quieted in the last few days. I see and hear one of the wrens, but the delivery of local building material has stopped. Is the female inside, tending eggs? Or have the couple perhaps decided that elsewhere is a better bet for their chicks? Time will will answer both questions, though I hope to witness fledgling wrens.

As cute as the adults are, how much more darling will be the fledglings?

15 thoughts on “Bewick’s Wrens”

    • They’re really cute, even if they’re not all that colorful. If you click on the link for Cornell Lab, it mentions that Bewick’s wrens populations have declined because of House Wrens tend to nest more aggressively. Funnily enough, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a House Wren here, though the Carolinas are very common. Wrens are such lovely birds!

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  2. Is the top photo a Bewick wren? I don’t know how you can tell them from the Carolina. I have only seen Carolinas here and always have a pair. Maybe the babies will return to nest in your yard.

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  3. I had a wren (or maybe two — I never saw them together) around here earlier this spring, but they seem to have moved on. They were wonderful singers; if the Bewicks is as lovely, you’ve had some fine serenades. It always amazes me that such small birds can produce such loud sounds! I hope you have a family of singers in a few weeks.

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    • Like you, I’m always astounded that these teeny, tiny beings produce such beautiful and loud music! Where does it come from!

      Sorry your wrens moved on, I’m sure you miss their song. Even with these two Bewick’s, I’m missing my Carolinas. Interesting that they’re not here this year. I wondered if perhaps the Red-shouldered hawks that were interested in my tree, but then move on, might have frightened them away?

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  4. Too cute! We have a pair making a nest in a small, decorative birdhouse against our tool shed. It is about 2 feet away from the hummingbird feeder. So far, everyone is being a nice neighbor. That birdhouse used to be a “frog house”. Every summer, a grey tree frog would hang out there.

    WE have both Carolinas and Bewicks. Have never seen a house wren and Merlin has not identified one here.

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    • These two really are just darling! Glad your real estate and restaurant are both hosting nice customers.

      I like that your ‘house’ is a kind of wildlife timeshare!

      I know that Bewick’s wrens are around here, I just don’t recall them ever in my garden space. Our neighborhood (central Austin) always has lots of Carolina wrens–one of my all-time favorite birds.

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  5. Glad you’re having such a good time with your avian residents. I never come across a mention of wrens without thinking of Edward Lear’s ditty:

    There was an Old Man with a beard,
    Who said, “It is just as I feared!—
    Two Owls and a Hen, four Larks and a Wren,
    Have all built their nests in my beard.

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    • Mama seems to be spending time in the little bird house, so I’m taking that as a good sign. Late this afternoon, dad had a staring contest with one of my cats. Little bird wren was very safe as the cat was in the ‘catio’ and a screen separated the two, much to Lena’s disappointment and the wren’s relief.

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