Marsh Wrens at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 27, 2019

While birding Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee the highlight of the walk were 3 Marsh Wrens at the small detention ponds. There are a few areas of cattails there and the Marsh Wrens were in and out of each area every couple minutes getting insects. They were quick up and down in the cattails getting things to eat. I was impossible to keep track of where they were most of the time as they pretty much stayed out of sight. One juvenile was seen. On a few occasions they briefly showed themselves and I got a couple of shots. They are considered “Secretive birds”, I know why.  It was a gloomy morning with cool temps, a good breeze, it was fall coat weather. Images were taken on September 27, 2019.

One of 3 Marsh Wrens…

Marsh Wren always looking for the next insect to eat…

Marsh Wren, how they typically perch in the cattails…

The juvenile Marsh Wren, once seen on a rock…it did pick a few insects off the rocks too but usually was in the cattails.

Looking around for insects…

Marsh Wren looking for things to eat…

Getting a spider…

Just perched pretty and looking…

Winter Wren at Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 9, 2019

While birding Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County, Golden-crowned Kinglets were plentiful along with a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, a bird that hides and feeds along the banks of creeks the Winter Wren was also present. These birds are very shy to say the least. While warblers and kinglets don’t even seem to acknowledge your presence, this bird sees you, and it is out of sight. It could be to that their food, gnats and bugs are in in vegetation, logs, around them, under them and along shore banks of creeks where we don’t hang out much to see them. These birds move fast and don’t typically sit still. This bird gave nice views from across the creek for a few moments and I tried to capture some of the action I saw. Clouds rolled in some during the day and temps were mild. Images were taken on April 9, 2019.

The Winter Wren, just how they stand…

Some of the habitat they hang out in and feed…

Moving along getting things to eat…

Moving along looking up, getting things to eat, sometimes they jump up for their food in the air, short flights…

Just looking around for something to eat…

Where you may see them..

 

 

House Wrens bringing food to the nest hole to feed the young in Waukesha County Wisconsin on June 21, 2015

I noticed on a walk through the yard today adult House Wrens where very busy at one of the bird houses bringing in food for the young. I stopped and observed for awhile and took a few shots to share. Some of the food brought into the nest hole appeared to be such things as green caterpillars, spiders, and many moths to name a few. Although I did not see any young, they were small in size and in the house. There was also some house cleaning going on. Images were taken on June 21, 2015.

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House Wren with green caterpillar

House Wren

Binomial name: Troglodytes aedon

Category: Wrens

Size: 4.75” long, 6” wing span

Weight: 0.39 Oz

House Wren

House Wren with spider

House Wren with

House Wren with caterpillar

House Wren leaving nest hole

House Wren leaving nest hole

House Wren with moth

House Wren with possible moth

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren with spider

House Wren with spider

House Wren removing fecal sacs from nest

House Wren removing fecal sac from nest

House Wren removing fecal sacs from nest

House Wren removing fecal sac from nest

House Wren with moth

House Wren with moth

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House Wren

House Wren arriving at the bird house with some food

House Wren arriving at the bird house with some food

House Wren arriving at the bird house with some food

House Wren arriving at the bird house with some food

House Wren with catipillar

House Wren with caterpillar

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren removing fecal sacs from nest

House Wren removing fecal sac from nest

House Wren with Daddy Longlegs

House Wren with Daddy Long Legs

House Wren with a moth

House Wren with a moth

House Wren with Daddy Long Legs

House Wren with Daddy Long Legs

House Wren with a caterpillar

House Wren with a caterpillar

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren with moth

House Wren with moth

House Wrens gathering food for the young August 12, 2014

I noticed House Wrens flying back and forth through the yard a couple of days ago and thought I would see what was going on. They were nesting in an older Bluebird house in the yard. Both adults were bringing food to the young in the house. It appeared that a large portion of the food brought in were Daddy Longlegs and amazingly the legs were all moving on them going to or into the house. Earwigs, caterpillars and other insects which are also known to be foods for the House Wrens were also gathered. Unfortunately I was not there at the time when the young left the nest, it would have been exciting to see that!

House Wren with a Grasshopper

House Wren with a Grasshopper on its way to the nest.

House Wren

Binomial name: Troglodytes aedon

Category: Wrens

Size: 4.75” long, 6” wing span

Weight: 0.39 Oz.

Habitat: Open forests, woodland edges, farms, city parks, backyards and residential areas. In winter months they are a more secretive bird spending time in thickets, brushy areas, hedgerows and underbrush. Breeding area is most of the US except the south and southern parts of Canada too.

Diet: Typically they prefer insects, daddy longlegs, earwigs, caterpillars and some flying insects as well. They are known to also eat snail shells to help with digestion.

Nesting: House Wrens will use tree cavities, nest boxes, and sometimes odd places such as mailboxes or fence posts for nesting sites. They are known to use old nest cavities form other birds and despite their size chase out other nesting birds for a nest site. They bring small twigs into a nest hole or cavity. The nest cup is lightly lined with grasses, string, hair, plant material and feathers. The female incubates 3-10 eggs for 12-19 days, sometimes 2 broods. The male brings food to the female, they both feed the young. Partners split up after raising the young and find new partners the next year.

Cool fact: Twigs are used for either foundation for the nest cup or used to pile in front of the nest hole opening for predators, cowbirds or weather protection.

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs on its way to the nest. Interesting how when they have the Daddy Longlegs in their bills and alive that their heads  are turning and moving as the Daddy Longlegs are fighting to get away!

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs on its way to the nest.

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs on its way to the nest.

House Wren with an insect

House Wren with an insect on its way to the nest.

House Wren with a live catapiller

House Wren with a live caterpillar on its way to the nest.

House Wren on its way to the nest

House Wren on its way to the nest with a moth.

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs.

House Wren passing food on

House Wren passing on a live Daddy Longlegs.

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren at the house

House Wren at the nest.

House Wren exiting the house after feeding

House Wren exiting the house after feeding young.

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren with a caterpillar

House Wren with a caterpillar on its way to the nest.

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren

House Wren with a Earwig

House Wren with a Earwig on its way to the nest.

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs on its way to the nest. Interesting how when they have the Daddy Longlegs in their bills and alive that their heads are turning and moving as the Daddy Longlegs are fighting to get away!

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs on its way to the nest.

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs

House Wren with a live Daddy Longlegs on its way to the nest.