Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Winter Wren
Scientific name:	Troglodytes hiemalis
Date:	10-25-25
Time:	1:30 pm
Length of time observed:	15 Minutes
Number:	1
Age:
Sex:
Location:	Willard Bay State Park
County:	Box Elder
Latilong:	41.419343, -112.055831
Elevation:	~4220
Distance to bird:	1-3 meters
Optical equipment:	Leica Ultravid 8x42 HD
Weather:	Overcast, 65 degrees, breezy
Light Conditions:	Good
Description: Size of bird:	Small, ~4 inches
(Description:) Basic Shape:	short tailed plump songbird
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Brown
(Description:) Bill Type:	Thin, pointed
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	It was very quiet at Willard Bay State Park, at the time we had hardly seen any birds. We were walking along the path just west of the pond that empties into Willard Creek at the north end of the campground, and I was telling Esther about a Winter Wren that was sighted in the exact area a few years back. Just for fun - I played the Winter Wren song. We continued walking to the west along the creek trail and about a minute later, 30 yards down the trail and right next to us we started to hear a very Song Sparrow-like chimp call. At first my brain went straight to Song Sparrow, but then I realized it was doing the call in doubles, and that it was likely reacting to the Winter Wren song I had just played a minute before. We spent the next 15 minutes trying to get looks and photos as it worked its way through the thick brush low along the trail, just a couple of feet away from us the whole time. We got really good looks but terrible photos. We also were able to get good recordings with the bird right next to the path. Small, short-tailed wren with its tail cocked up, Overall brown tones with heavily barred flanks and wings. Lighter brown throat and eyebrow. Colder brown tones than Pacific Wren which are usually more rufous. The call and spectrogram match WIWR (including previous recordings from Willard Bay SP in 2021), and it also reacted to WIWR calls multiple times during the sighting. See photo and audio recording. (s
Song or call & method of delivery:	Song Sparrow like chimp calls, usually given in doubles. Sweeter, less insect-like than PAWR
Behavior:	Skulking in thick vegetation and tangles right next to the ground
Habitat:	Riparian habitat with large trees and thick understory.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Pacific Wren - less distinct barring on sides and wings, less contrasty eyebrow and throat, overall more rufous brown tones. Call is distinct and quite different. Northern House Wren - Larger, longer-tailed, much more pale brown underneath and lacking distinct eyebrow. Sound very different.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	This would be my sixth Winter Wren in Utah, lots of experience in the midwest
References consulted:
Description from:	From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Max Malmquist
Observer's address:	2377 East Boyes Street
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Mike Malmquist and Esther Sumner, many others afterwards
Date prepared:	11-3-2025
Additional material:	Photos, Audio recordings in eBird Checklist as well
Additional comments:	https://ebird.org/checklist/S281352315