Carolina wren

The bird of the week this week is the Carolina wren, which was visiting the back deck a lot over the winter but has not been around so much since spring really set in.

Sometimes there were two or three out there, poking about for the remains of peanuts left behind by the squirrels.  Despite the Carolina in the name they are quite common here in Pennsylvania throughout the year.  They are easily distinguished from their cousins the house wrens by their bold white eyebrows.

They also have a very bold song which sounds far too loud to be coming from a bird the size of a sparrow.  My reference renders the song as chip mediator mediator mediator chip - truly a diplomat among birds. 

It's hard to see in photos but the barring on a Carolina wren's feathers creates quite an unusual speckled look, although strangely it's a bit easier to see in action shots.

Anyway, these friendly little fellows were keeping Mrs Walles and I company a lot over the winter.  It's a shame they've left us, but then there are plenty of other critters to take their place.