Need help identifying white-spotted mousy brown, very young bird..

by Christina
(Box Canyon, CA, USA)

For the past three nights in a row, there has been a baby or very young bird sleeping up in the top of my front doorway outside. It's only there in the dark, gone by sunrise. The head is always tucked, so I can't describe that, but the body is a fluffy 2 1/2" ball of small mousy brown feathers with white spots. The tiny wing and tail feathers are mousy brown, the tail has tiny black horizontal stripes. I don't want to snap a picture because I'm afraid the flash and noise might disturb it. I only saw it because of my motion detecting light outside my door. I tried doing a search for pictures online, and at first thought it might be a wren, but none of the wrens have white spots. I then thought it might be a baby hawk, because of the tail feathers. Whatever it is, I'm honored it feels safe here, and I hope it stays. I would just love to know exactly what it is. Thanks in advance for any help!

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Apr 12, 2015

Baby birds in front door wreath
by: Ohio

We had the same situation here in Ohio last night. My folks had not seen them before. I did take a picture with my ipad, wish i could upload it! Their tiny heads were tucked in for the night.

Jan 09, 2013

same birdies
by: Anonymous

i have the exact same 2 birds sleeping in a wreath outside my door. so which are they wrens or owls?? i live in pennsylvania.

Dec 05, 2012

Thank you for posting, everyone! :-)
by: Anonymous

Thanks to all who have posted! I had forgotten all about this post until I received notifications of your responses in my inbox, and was very excited to read your contributions! As it turns out, my little friend is a canyon wren. That sweet little baby turned me into a backyard birder, and I bought a field guide. One day I heard the voice of the canyon wren during the day, and I did a search for the voice online, then matched it with the image in my field guide, and put the pieces together. In addition to all of this detective work, one night it flew into my apartment. I lovingly and gently scooped my hands around it, got a very close look, then gently set it free outside. It was such a moving, touching moment. It hasn't been back since, but at least now I know for sure what it is.

Dec 03, 2012

Figured it out!
by: Anonymous

I don't know if your friend is the same as mine, but I found a picture of a Carolina Wren online. From "behind" it has white spots and a long tail and fluffs out at night. Hope this helps identify!

Dec 03, 2012

Me too...
by: Anonymous

I have one sleeping in my porch light every night, gone by morning. We are in the Panhandle of Florida. I have done several searches as well...and it appears to be a barred owl baby. They are pretty common in the southeast. All I know is my kids love telling him, Oscar, good night :-)

Nov 14, 2011

I have 2 of them roosting every night at my front door as well.
by: Anonymous

Thanks for posting this, I have 2 of these birds nesting on top of a ladder leaning against the house at my front door every night. They usually sleep side by side and they are very small and almost fuzzy looking with two trail feathers hanging down. They are adorable. I also can't see their heads and they are gone by daylight just as you said. I'm in central Florida and its November, so maybe they are just passing through. Too cute and we won't move the ladder until they stop using it.

Oct 13, 2011

Bewick's wren.
by: Susan

It is a Bewick's wren.

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