Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
This Bewick's Wren was observed in a residential area of north Berkeley on July 1, 2017. It was during the breeding season, and it was busy capturing food (the bee in its beak) to bring to its nearby nest. Both parents feed the nestlings, although the male will bring food to the female during the incubation stage. The Bewick's Wren is a year-round denizen of California (and much of the southwest U.S.) The male can sing with beautiful trills, although both males and females can use a scolding tone when calling. Most of the wren species in the U.S. have barred tails, and they often will raise them while perched (like the one shown here). The Bewick's Wren has a prominent white eyebrow, and a fairly drab gray belly.