Coastal BC Birds: Pacific Wren

Pacific Wren

Looking for something to eat.

We were sitting on the sofa and movement caught our eye outside our sliding glass door. I was expecting to see the Song Sparrow that visited us last winter, but this bird was very different.

I got my camera to help make an identification using nature guides. The Internet is a great resource, but up at the cabin with limited access having books makes getting an answer right away much easier.

The tiny, plump bird was busy flitting from one empty flower pot to the next looking for tiny seeds in the soil. That was a difficult task since the surface was frozen solid from the sub-zero temperatures during the recent Arctic inflow.

Where are all the seeds?

He slowed down long enough for me to get a few shots through the glass door. The body about was 10 cm (4 in) in size and quite round, especially with the feathers fluffed up to stay warm. The colour was dark brown with a reddish cast. The short tail, constantly flicking up and down, had darker horizontal scalloped bands. A short, thin beak looked perfect for seed cracking. My guide said it was most likely a Pacific Wren.

They are common in coniferous forests, but move below the snow line in winter. Maybe that’s why it’s here now. Snow is down to about 500 feet, not far above our float cabin’s location at lake surface.

A plump Pacific Wren visiting our pots on the cabin deck.

I took my feeder down because seeds kept sprouting during rainy weather, so I added some birdseed to the flowerpots. I should be able to easily pull out any sprouts before spring planting time comes.

It’s so good to have a winter bird visit our cabin. I really miss all of the spring and summer bird calls and activity. -- Margy

References: Birds of Southwestern British Columbia by R. Cannings, T. Aversa and H. Opperman (2005) and National Geographic Complete Birds of North America edited by Jonathan Alderfer (2nd Edition 2014).