The wee interloper. . . . . . .

~ The House Wren ~

We rarely see this particular tiny bird in our garden even though it's a native

 of eastern North Carolina. It rarely comes to seed feeders preferring an insect diet.

 In winter months it sometimes migrates to other southern states and Mexico,

 but often just hangs out in North Carolina year round.

A very tiny bird, just a bit smaller than the more prolific Carolina wren - my favorite

 little bird ~ but the same size as the Carolina chickadee, this wren apparently has

 found its way to my front porch over the past few days, and. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

 . . . . . . . . . .guess who's having to fend him/her off from their nest site in the 

Home Sweet Home box, our pair of chickadees!

They have a plan though, when the wren shows up, one stays covering the entrance

 while the other one hangs on the Boston fern then chases the noisy wren away.

Here the House wren is sitting on the jasmine below the nest box, probably thinking

 the spider web is camouflaging it! This bird is very cute, barely 5" long and not

 as chubby as the Carolina wren.  Brown and tan, with a slightly curved bill, it also

 holds its tail erect. It lacks the white eyebrow of the Carolina wren but is also a

 prolific songster, singing loud, melodious songs from dawn to dusk during 

the mating season. I'll be keeping an eye on it as I don't want it to steal

 house and home from the chickadees - they have nested here for the past

 three years, and last year in April we were lucky enough to watch the

four babies fledge - an awesome sight.

From the wildlife habitat, my garden, yet another bird story. . . . . . . . 

 and there will be more of course!