From Opus

Photo by Leslie

Chamaea fasciata

[edit] Identification

The Wrentit is an unmarked, brown, rotund bird with a yellow iris and a long tail. It is about 6 1/2 inches long and has a short, somewhat curved dark bill.

[edit] Similar Species

The Wrentit is often confused with the Bushtit, another drab species found in similar habitat. A useful plumage feature for separating these two is the distribution of reddish-brown colors: a Wrentit will show its warmest color on the lower chest, which is often a pinkish-brown. Bushtits tend to show cold gray chests with the warmest brown tones found on the head, especially the crown.

With practice the two species are easily separated by behavior and voice. The Bushtit is a social bird, found in loose flocks that fly from tree to tree in the mid-canopy and constantly producing high-pitched chip notes. By contrast, the Wrentit is usually found as a pair of birds or a solitary individual, and will usually stay low to the ground in dense brush. It rarely flies in the open without a direct threat, preferring to retreat deeper within vegetation and make various low-pitched chattering calls.

[edit] Distribution

Coastal regions of western North America, from Oregon south to Baja California.
Abundant in parts of its range.

[edit] Taxonomy

Five subspecies recognized:

• C. f. phaea from western Oregon south along the humid coastal belt to California border
• C. f. margra in interior southern Oregon
• C. f. rufula from the Oregon border south to San Francisco Bay area
• C. f. fasciata in coastal central California
• C. f. henshawi in interior and southern California to extreme northwestern Mexico (Baja California)

This placement of this species in the taxonomic order remained longtime a mystery. It was placed in its own family or within the Sylviidae Warblers. New research show that it is the only American member of the Timaliidae, the Babblers.

[edit] Habitat

Low brush and chaparral, often near water.

[edit] Behaviour

Active and vocal, but rarely visible. The bird often raises its tail while jumping around within dense brush.
Feeds on insects, but takes also fruit and berries.
Breeding season from March to August. A monogamous species, mating for life. The nest is a deep, compact cup made of fibres, bark and spider web. It's placed close to the ground among twigs of shrub. Lays 3 - 4 eggs.
Resident species.

[edit] Vocalization

The call is a varied series of grinding and chattering noises.

[edit] External Links