Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)

Feather Maintenance

November 6, 2025

A Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) at a birdbath caring for its feathers. A tiny bird that is here only in winter. Smaller than a Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), measuring 3.1 to 4.7 inches in length. The smallest Wren in North America.

Both Winter and Carolina Wrens are in the Troglodytidea or Wren family. While Carolina Wrens are boisterous, Winter Wrens are the quiet and secretive ones in the family.

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Bigger Than A Hummingbird But Still Mighty Small

March 5, 2025

The Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis). Measures in at 3.1 to 4.7 inches in length. Mighty small and actually the smallest Wren in North America. They’re only here in my part of Virginia in the winter and they normally frequent areas more dense than I have here. It’s wonderful to see one and I’m not surprised to find it at the birdbath since they enjoy being in riparian areas.

While they’re here in the winter they are still determined to eat insects, spiders, and pupae but will resort to eating small berries and seeds.

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Tiny Puff Of Feathers

A winter resident that I seldom get to see. This morning though, as I was about to do the breakfast dishes I spied it taking a splish-splash in the birdbath.

A tiny puff of feathers, Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis), the smallest wren in North America. And know how chattery the Carolina Wren is? The Winter Wren has much more to say.

What a pure treat to see it this morning!

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