Last Updated: December 2, 2009 by Paul Lehman

winter
summer
migration
year round
extralimital range

Range: Common year-round resident in coastal states from south-coastal Alaska to central California. Breeds inland to western Alberta in Canada. Year-round resident to western Montana and western Nevada; populations exist in Utah, the black hills of South Dakota, and central Arizona. In winter, may spread out to locations at lower elevations where it doesn't breed. Rare south and east of normal range, but more information needed. May overlap with Winter Wren in northeast part of range in Alberta and eastern British Columbia.

Identification: (Troglodytes pacificus)

Small wren with a short cocked tail. Dark chocolate brown overall with a short paler brown supercillium. Thin dark bill. Barring on wings and lightly barred flanks and belly. Pinkish legs. Very similar to Winter Wren but has slightly darker plumage overall especially on the throat, a slightly less contrasting supercillium, and less barring on the underparts.

Length: 10 (cm) Wingspan: 14 (cm)

Habitat:

Prefers dense moist woods with lots of thick underbrush.

Behavior:

Typical wren-like behavior. Usually forages by creeping around on the ground, low in shrubs, and on large logs where there is brush for coverage.

Feeding:

Feeds mostly on spiders and other insects.

Field Notes

We see Pacific Wrens often in our yard as well as in the woods around Lincoln City. In the spring they are quite vocal, making the shy fellow easy to spot. Like other Wrens, they are fiercely protective of their nests. We have been scolded on more than one occasion and yet have never seen a nest!

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Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this regularly, highly confident.

Expanded Life History

Feed Ecology And Diet	Contribute Content
Nesting Habits	Contribute Content
Migration Status	Contribute Content
Conservation Status	Contribute Content
Local Sites to Spot	Contribute Content
Abundance Status	Contribute Content
Adult Male Description	Contribute Content
Adult Female Description	Contribute Content
ITIS Taxonomic Number	Contribute Content
Sonogram	Contribute Content
Courtship	Contribute Content
Reproductive Characteristics	Contribute Content
Relationship to Humans	Contribute Content
ID Tips - Size & Shape	Contribute Content
ID Tips - Color & Pattern	Contribute Content
ID Tips - Habitat	Contribute Content
ID Tips - Behavior	Contribute Content
ID Tips - Wingspan	Contribute Content
ID Tips - Weight	Contribute Content
Breeding	Contribute Content
Cool Facts	Contribute Content
Local Knowledge	Contribute Content

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Sightings

Date	Submitted By	Count
05/23/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
05/16/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
05/16/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
05/09/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
05/09/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
04/25/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
04/18/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
04/11/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
04/11/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
04/11/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
04/04/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
04/04/17	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
06/25/16	Dave Irons, OR	#
11/10/14	Steven Mauvais, OR	#
11/26/14	Bob Archer	#

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Recent Activity

Activity	Date & Time
Steven Mauvais added Pacific Wren to their Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge smart list	4/08/2017 at 12:17PM
Steven Mauvais added Pacific Wren to their Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge smart list	4/08/2017 at 12:16PM
dawn villaescusa added a note to Pacific Wren Notes	9/22/2011 at 12:23PM

Pacific Wren