Three subspecies comprise this species--Eastern, Southwest, and Pacific. The Southwest is paler (grayer), Eastern is unmarked brown with a pale gray belly, and the Pacific has a gray belly with a lengthy white supercilium.
The tail is more often held upward and flicked sideways which will show the white corners, especially when the species is in flight. It is thinner than the Carolina Wren and not nearly as colorful. Its syrinx allows it nearly two dozen melodies depending upon its range.
Preferring river and streamside, hedgerows, parks, farmhouses, suburbia with trees, and open woodland with thick undergrowth, this gentle bird appears tame and is quite approachable. It is rarely more than ten feet above ground while gleaning insects from leaves, tree trunks and branches. It blends into its surroundings quite well, so it could be difficult to see, unless it is a singing male atop a tree.
Bewick's Wren
Boomer Lake Park, Dec. 2016
This cavity nester will choose old woodpecker holes, sheds, abandoned buildings, birdhouses, tree cavities, etc. These sites are similar to those of the House Wren, which is more aggressive and will easily evict the Bewick's Wren if it so chooses.
It is strictly an insectivore, most interested in larvae, spiders, eggs, assorted insects, and small invertebrates.
They reside year round in the west and central states. Once the House Wren has migrated in the fall, Bewick's Wren may choose to overnight in its former nest cavity. What few are in the east will migrate between September and October to early November. It is suspected that both Carolina and House Wrens may have driven it away for the most part from eastern regions due to their more dominant natures.
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