Looking outside my window this morning towards my bird feeders, I noticed one of which is perhaps my favorite birds to see in the winter. No, it wasn’t a redpoll, or a siskin, or even a grosbeak, it was perhaps a bird that some don’t associate with winter…a wren. Now, living in the northeast in the Upstate region of New York, at this time of year it could only be one type of wren…a Carolina.

Why do I love this bird so much in winter? Perhaps because it seems so out of place. Throughout the rest of the year wren’s vie for our attention from thick brambles or cattail choked marshes. Hidden in a vegetative state of secrecy they often require patience, a bit of luck, or perhaps some good pishing to get them within the field of view of our binoculars. But not these guys (Carolinas) and most especially, not at this time of year.

Around here the few birds that remain over the course of the winter often visit bird feeders in the open. Here they can be found feeding on seeds and suet as their cocked tails and warm hues announce their presence and ID. For me, it gives me a feeling of hope that all is right in the world, if only on a minute scale. This is my bird of winter if only for now.

Chad