Backyard bird #54, the House Wren!

Three of them were chattering in the maple tree by the big garden this morning.

Noisy little birds. Peppy and adorable. Funny I’ve never noticed them in our backyard before.

A plain brown bird with an effervescent voice, the House Wren is a common backyard bird over nearly the entire Western Hemisphere. Listen for its rush-and-jumble song in summer and you’ll find this species zipping through shrubs and low tree branches, snatching at insects.

Guess they nest elsewhere and are just passing through. Maybe they are migrating south already?

There were other signs this morning that it is bird autumn: Great Blue Heron lifted off from pond edge as I walked out back with the dog; flock of eight or ten Tree Swallows were dipping down to drink from the pond on the wing.

House Wrens on the garden fence.

In summer, House Wrens are at home in open forests, forest edges, and areas with scattered grass and trees. Backyards, farmyards, and city parks are perfect for them. In winter they become more secretive, preferring brushy tangles, thickets, and hedgerows.

Oh stay, little bird. Do not fly away with our summer too soon!