12:34 PM
Now here is a bird with Napolean Syndrome. House Wrens are small, only around 5 inches and weighing less than half an ounce, but they think they are the biggest baddest bird of them all. Backyard birders have a love-hate relationship with House Wrens. They are a drab small but endearing bird because of their big voice, which is why they are loved. They have a habit of destroying the nests of and even killing adult Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, and chickadees, making them unwelcome to the backyard birder. House Wrens will search out nearby nests and punch holes in the eggs to prevent other House Wrens and birds of any species from successfully breeding. It is thought they do this because it decreases their competition for food resources to feed their chicks.
House Wrens are the smallest wren in Kentucky during this time of year (in winter the similar Winter Wren is present and is even smaller). This time of year though the presence of House Wrens are most easily located by their song. Other identification features are the long decurved beak, short wings, a barred brown back, and a pale eyebrow. House Wrens also have the habit of cocking their tail straight up so that is a behavior to look for as well.
Posted in: House Wren
1 comments:
Great shots of the House Wren and the Hooded Merganzer. I don't know why, but we don't have too many House Wrens here. Mostly we have the Bewick's. And I love the merganzers. They're so photogenic to me.
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