ID Keys: Rather plain, grayish brown overall, long tail, pale iris
The
Wrentit is a distinctive species found near the Pacific Coast of the U.S.
and Baja California. They can be difficult to observe, given their
tendency to both nest and forage in dense shrubs and other vegetation.
Wrentits mate for life, typically bonding with a mate before or during their
first winter. Permanent residents throughout their range, the
remainder of their lives, Wrentit pairs inhabit remarkably small home ranges
of only a handful of acres.
Habitat
Wrentits can be found in a variety of
low, shrubby habitats, such as coastal sage-scrub, chaparral, riparian
thickets, and shrubby gardens.
Diet
Feeds heavily on insects and spiders in the
summer months. Insects are consumed at other seasons as well, but
during the colder months, berries make up a big part of the diet.
Behavior
Actively feeds in dense, low vegetation,
climbing and hopping through the vegetation, taking insects from the
vegetation, often hanging upside down while feeding.
Nesting
The nests of Wrentits are built in dense
shrubs, typically quite close to the ground (below 5 feet). The nest
itself is built of barks, plant fibers, and spider webs, built in the shape
of a small cup. Both parents incubate the eggs, and both parents help
to raise the young.
Song
The Wrentit is best known for its accelerating, bouncing song that starts slowly and rises into a rapid ping-pong series, often compared to a ball skipping faster and faster. It also gives soft scolding chatters and dry ticking notes from deep cover.
