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Naturalist John Burroughs (1837-1921) described the Winter Wren’s song as “a tremulous, vibrating tongue of silver” and he wrote that “the silence was suddenly broken by a strain so rapid and gushing, and touched with such a wild, sylvan plaintiveness, that I listened in amazement.” Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was equally impressed by the “exceptionally brisk and lively strain” with an “incessant twittering flow” that sounded like a “fine corkscrew stream issuing with incessant lisping tinkle from a cork, flowing rapidly.” Poets have quite a way with words, don’t they?

The Winter Wren breeds in northern forests, high mountains, and Pacific coastal forests— from Maine and the Maritime provinces across Canada to the Pacific coast. Winter Wrens also breed at high altitudes in the Appalachian Mountains, as far south as Georgia (see range map).

Winter Wren Song, Normal Speed & Slowed Down:

Here is a single Winter Wren song played at normal speed:

One song of a Winter Wren played at normal speed. Recorded by Lang Elliott in the Adirondack Mountain region of upstate New York.

Now here is the same Winter Wren song, slowed down to about one-third speed so that you can more easily discern the intricate melody. Listen carefully — there are over 100 notes in this single song, many delivered as slurrs and trills! Even when slowed-down, it is difficult to count all the notes.

One song of a Winter Wren slowed down to about one-third normal speed. Recorded by Lang Elliott in the Adirondack Mountain region of upstate New York.

Winter Wren Soundscape Recording:

I’ve recorded many a Winter Wren over the years, but this is my all-time favorite. It is a magical, pristine stereo recording of a Winter Wren singing from the top of a Balsam Fir next to a trickling brook. The location is Shindagin Hollow, a state forest natural area near Ithaca, New York.

While the wren dominates the soundscape, two Wood Thrushes can be heard singing in the background and a Ruffed Grouse periodically drums in the distance (you’ll need good headphones or a subwoofer to hear his low thumping). Other bird sounds include Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ovenbird and Mourning Dove. Close your eyes and enjoy this marvelous soundscape. How relaxing . . . the lively gurgling of the stream punctuated by the bubbling songs of the wren, set against a backdrop of subtle bird sounds . . . a beautiful audio impression of the mixed forest habitat in upstate New York.

Winter Wren singing from top of a Balsam Fir next to a stream, 9 May 2006, 5:45am, Shindagin Hollow, near Brooktondale, New York. Recorded by Lang Elliott.

Shindagin Hollow

Winter Wren Recording:

Song of a Winter Wren recorded at dawn, Ferd’s Bog, Adirondack State Park, NY. © Wil Hershberger. 76cm parabola, Sony RDAT and Sennheiser ME62 mic.

Winter Wrens occur across the entire northern hemisphere. In the spring and early summer there are Winter Wrens singing somewhere at any given moment of every single day. Don Kroodsma, in his book, “The Singing Life of Birds,” envisioned the dawn chorus of Winter Wrens sweeping around the globe along with the rising of the sun. What a wonderful image to embrace.

The Winter Wrens of northeastern North America are perhaps, what we would regard as, the most talented singers of the bunch. Their spirited songs are rich and melodic and very pleasing to the human ear. As the sun rises, these tiny birds mount to the top of a tall tree, usually a spruce, and then release more sound than anyone would imagine could be contained in such a sprite. In the cool still air of the morning their songs carry many hundreds of yards, snaking up and down stream courses and up the hillsides. The songs of wrens from western North America are more complex and longer. However, their songs are squeakier and harsher to our ears, not nearly as musical as the eastern wrens.

One of the idyllic places to experience this rush of song is Ferd’s Bog, a small and quiet haunt in the Adirondack Mountains near Eagle Bay, New York. As the name implies, this is a bog‚ a quaking sphagnum bog to be precise. Winter Wrens occur in the spruce forest surrounding the bog and their lilting melodies echo throughout the landscape. The entire experience is thrilling, enchanting, and will haunt you for life.

The Winter Wren featured in the above recording was 60 feet off the ground in a tall Black Spruce. Using a large parabolic reflector and a sensitive microphone, I was able to isolate his song from the forests’ morning symphony.