Carolina Wrens

While at Prime Hook NWR a few weeks ago, I stopped at a bench to rest and take in the beauty around me. It didn’t take long to spot movement of a bird creeping up the trunk of a tree.

It was a Carolina Wren.

These birds love to creep low on tree trunks and through dense vegetation areas choked with tangled vines and bushes in search of insects and fruit.

The Carolina Wren is a year-round resident of the eastern half of the United States.

When a male and female bond, they will stay together for life. I noticed a second Carolina Wren on a tree alongside the first one. I wondered if I had found mates.

The second Carolina Wren moved down that tree and inside a broken-off branch. He/she just sat there and did not move. Maybe this was their home or shelter?

These little birds are very leery and quick to move/hide, so I felt lucky on resting at the right place at the right time and meeting up with this Carolina Wren pair. 🙂

Tags: Delaware, nature, NWR, photo, photographs, photography, photos, Prime Hook, Wren, Carolina

39 thoughts on “Carolina Wrens”

tootlepedal on 12/04/2017 at 4:32 PM said:

Our wrens are very difficult to catch too. You did very well.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/04/2017 at 8:39 PM said:
  
  Thank you Tom. I kept still, hoping ‘someone’ would flit out for me to photograph.
  
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Ingrid on 12/04/2017 at 5:13 PM said:

Wonderful captures. Always enjoy seeing your posts. Hope to bump into you one day!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/04/2017 at 8:42 PM said:
  
  Thanks Ingrid. I wish things for us were in a better situation. But who knows, some day we may!
  
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Susan Hale on 12/04/2017 at 5:19 PM said:

Beautiful photos Donna! I love the colors and detail in each of them. Thanks for sharing!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/04/2017 at 8:47 PM said:
  
  Thanks Susan. I’m way behind on facebook, I NEED to visit and continue my journey on your journey of gorgeous photos. Be by soon, I’ve been down/out with the 3rd anniv of my mom’s passing going by at Thanksgiving. Trying to get back into the swing of things. 🙂
  
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  - Steve Schwartzman on 12/05/2017 at 9:56 AM said:
    
    My mother died at this time of year in 1988. Things will get better for you.
  - bayphotosbydonna on 12/05/2017 at 9:11 PM said:
    
    Thank you, Steve, for your kind words, I appreciate them.
Sketching on Whidbey Island on 12/04/2017 at 5:49 PM said:

What a handsome bird and fortunate for you that it let you capture its image with your camera

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/04/2017 at 8:49 PM said:
  
  Thank you, I did feel fortunate to have gotten to capture them that day. The best photos of the Carolina Wren for me to date. 🙂
  
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Nick Hunter on 12/04/2017 at 5:50 PM said:

Delightful series. The combination of poses and background settings is superb!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/04/2017 at 8:49 PM said:
  
  Thanks so much, Nick! It was almost like they were showing off their posing! 🙂
  
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avian101 on 12/04/2017 at 6:13 PM said:

Very nice shots Donna! Most likely that they were mates. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/04/2017 at 8:49 PM said:
  
  Thanks HJ, I felt they were too. 🙂
  
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neihtn2012 on 12/04/2017 at 7:08 PM said:

Great shots of the Caolina Wren! The one that you use for banner is superb,

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/04/2017 at 8:50 PM said:
  
  Thanks Hien! Sometimes you get the feeling they want their photo taken, lol. 😉
  
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bayphotosbydonna on 12/04/2017 at 8:39 PM said:

Thank you very much!

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Ellen Jennings on 12/04/2017 at 9:40 PM said:

Great shots of this perky fellow and tree perch, Donna! Glad you paused for a break and saw the movement.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/04/2017 at 9:55 PM said:
  
  Thanks Ellen, me too! 🙂
  
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jkaybay on 12/04/2017 at 10:03 PM said:

Wonderful! Love the wood too – especially in the last shot.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/05/2017 at 9:05 PM said:
  
  Thanks so much!
  
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Gunta on 12/04/2017 at 10:09 PM said:

Marvelous shots, Donna! There’s something about these small, fast-moving little birds that is so very challenging to catch with a camera. Eric has far more patience for it than I do, but I do love to watch them… or enjoy his shots and yours! 😀

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/05/2017 at 9:06 PM said:
  
  Thanks Gunta! For some reason I do have patience with birds, not sure why, I hate driving in traffic and get annoyed so easily! 😉
  
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thelocals2016 on 12/05/2017 at 1:50 AM said:

I suspect that these a very small birds. They look a bit like what we call little grass birds.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/05/2017 at 9:10 PM said:
  
  They are small. And so very quick!
  
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Jet Eliot on 12/05/2017 at 1:27 PM said:

Wrens are always such a treat to come across, how fortunate for you, Donna. They don’t stay still, so your photos are really excellent looks at this beautiful bird. We don’t have the Carolina Wrens on the west coast, so this was especially nice for me, thank you.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/05/2017 at 9:12 PM said:
  
  Thanks Jet, they are a pretty little bird. I was happy to find a pair that most likely were mates. 🙂 I hope things are going as well as can be for you and Athena.
  
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circadianreflections on 12/05/2017 at 2:34 PM said:

They’re so quick! Nicely done getting so many lovely images!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/05/2017 at 9:13 PM said:
  
  Thanks Deborah! A fun time with this pair. I think they liked posing. 🙂
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on 12/05/2017 at 2:40 PM said:

Hi Donna,
I also love these tiny, hyperactive wrens, but have yet to see a Carolina Wren. Your photos show their alertness and movement so well.
Best,
Tanja

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/05/2017 at 9:15 PM said:
  
  Thanks Tanja! Had the bench not been in the perfect spot, I know I would have missed seeing them. It was one of those feel-good moments. 🙂
  
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  - tanjabrittonwriter on 12/09/2017 at 5:24 PM said:
    
    …small but ponderous presents of nature…
aussiebirder on 12/05/2017 at 2:48 PM said:

Lovely captures of your wren Donna 😊 This bird reminds me of the English wren, and how difficult it was to photograph as it moved so fast and would not stay still. You have done well to get such good photos. It is good to see that your able to get out birding again. 🦅

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/05/2017 at 9:22 PM said:
  
  Thanks Ashley, I was very fortunate to have that bench in the right spot to actually get the chance to see them. Had I not taken a rest, I know I would have missed them. These and all the previous latest posts are from the same day of just a few hours at Prime Hook NWR. Still have one/two more posts from that visit. I have gotten out one other time to Bombay NWR nearby and am still going through those photos. 🙂
  
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aussiebirder on 12/05/2017 at 10:35 PM said:

That’s such a blessing, as the older birding saying goes ‘if you sit still and quietly wait, the birds will come to you.’ Have a wonderful week!

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brighamstephen on 12/06/2017 at 3:58 PM said:

I like your technique. Find a quiet, beautiful spot, a wait with camera at ready. You never know what may turn up.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/10/2017 at 9:43 PM said:
  
  Thanks and you are right!
  
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denisebushphoto on 12/07/2017 at 3:09 PM said:

Wonderful captures of these cute little birds. I would see them on the suet and outside the window frequently when we lived in South Jersey and now I miss seeing them. Feeding the birds is not a good idea here unless you only do it when the bears are hibernating. In the summer we have to bring our second level deck hummingbird feeders in at night. We caught a bear trying to climb up our pillar to get to one.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/10/2017 at 9:48 PM said:
  
  Oh my word, Denise, bears, now that’s a sight at a bird feeder. I hear they’ll do just about anything to get to food, but never thought about bird feeders. 🙂
  
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