Wren WESTERN BIRDS 



in bird boxes unmindful of the family. They are saucy, 

 jovial little sprites that have a number of harsh, rasping 

 notes and a wonderfully sweet song. 



GENUS TROGLODYTES : WESTERN 

 HOUSE WREN. 



Western House Wren: Troglodytes esdon pdrkmani. 

 FAMILY— WRENS. 



Pkobably the most familiar member of this interesting 

 family is the little House Wren, sometimes called Park- 

 man's or Pacific on the western coast. It is about five 

 inches long, with dull brown uppers finely barred with 

 blackish, except on head; under parts a dingy white, 

 browner on flanks and sides and lightly barred with 

 blackish. The bill is long and slender and the eyes very 

 bright. While this little sprite is dull of plumage, it is 

 by no means so in actions, being one of the nimblest, 

 j oiliest, and most lovable members of the bird world. 



The Western House Wren is a summer visitor in most 

 parts of our State, though they stay late in the southern 

 part and in some localities spend the winter. Though 

 resembling the eastern bird in plumage, in the friendly 

 way of coming about the house it differs from its eastern 

 cousin, since it prefers canyons, arroyos, and parks that 

 adjoin such places, to the dooryard. While occasionally 

 they come to you, as a rule, you must go to them. The 

 bird has little fear of mankind and pours forth its jovial 

 song in a continuous performance — Wren-like. In the 

 matter of a harsh, scolding call note, or notes, they are 

 unmistakable. A bird which has recently come into my 

 yard has given a great number of calls, aside from its 

 regular song. The commonest was a nasal spee-ee-ee, a 



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