9 replies to this topic

[PanHanNE]

All photos taken in Garden County Nebraska (panhandle)

1>Marsh Wren
5-9-12


2>House Wren
5-12-12



3>Rock Wren (2 shots)
Tail always down.
7-16-12

[Liam]

I can confirm your first two, but I'm not sure on the last one; it may be a House Wren.

[psweet]

I agree with Liam -- that last bird's a House Wren. Rock Wrens don't nest in houses -- they nest under rocks, and put in a little paved deck in front!

[PanHanNE]

I agree with Liam -- that last bird's a House Wren. Rock Wrens don't nest in houses -- they nest under rocks, and put in a little paved deck in front!

Thanks. I had wondered about that. Couldn't find anything online, one way or the other.
Not seeing anyone who was saying they had nesting Rock Wrens sorta made me suspicious.

The family who lives where the birdhouse is located said they watch the birds daily, and have never seen either with their tails pointing up, making them wonder if they were even wrens or not. Rock Wrens were the only ones I could find that almost always have their tails pointing down, not up, in photos that are online.
I hung around over there long enough to get shots of both birds, and sure enough, both always had downpointing tails while I watched.

So really, for the most part, with wrens, since they look so much alike, you go by WHERE (and what month) you see them,
more than anything? Or are there also some distinguishing field marks that will help me be more decisive on the wrens we get here, (if they are just passing through and not filling a nesting box?

House, (trees, yards)
Marsh(cattails),
Rock(in rocks),and
Winter (Dec-Feb only)

[psweet]

Actually, when you get a good look at a Rock Wren, it'll be pretty obvious. They're paler gray and buff, with longer bills. And yes, with them location should be a good clue -- you almost never see them away from rocky hills.

[PanHanNE]

Once again, thank you.

[folkeye]

My super cruddy max zoom pixel point and shoot shot of a Rock Wren for comparison



Rock Wren by notrufus, on Flickr

[PanHanNE]

Arghhhh!
It is in a TREE, not on a rock! After I had just decided that if I find one in a tree, it will be a House Wren, and any Rock Wrens will have to be playing on a rock!
As psweet pointed out, though, it does look like the bill is noticeably longer. (so hopefully, if I ever find one, my own less than wonderful max zoom point-and-click will show detail clear enough to see that. Love the zoom, better than my binoculars, even, but the quality of pictures I end up with is normally not anything to write home about. Could be the idiot behind the shutter button, though, and not really the camera. )
Thanks for sharing the picture.

[folkeye]

Arghhhh!
It is in a TREE, not on a rock! After I had just decided that if I find one in a tree, it will be a House Wren, and any Rock Wrens will have to be playing on a rock!
As psweet pointed out, though, it does look like the bill is noticeably longer. (so hopefully, if I ever find one, my own less than wonderful max zoom point-and-click will show detail clear enough to see that. Love the zoom, better than my binoculars, even, but the quality of pictures I end up with is normally not anything to write home about. Could be the idiot behind the shutter button, though, and not really the camera. )
Thanks for sharing the picture.

There were rocks nearby, if that helps

[cabirds]

I had to toss you a "Like" on the "there were rocks nearby". LOL. If we lived on a gas giant, instead of rocky, planet - that'd be really diagnostic.