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Eurasian Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes

Least Concern
Small, energetic birds with big voices, they are officially the UK’s most numerous bird species, occurring almost everywhere, from gardens to farms and the countryside.
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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Eurasian Wren is a tiny, plump bird with a short tail often held upright. Its upperparts are rich brown with fine, dark barring, while the underparts are paler with variable barring. The bird has a prominent pale eyebrow stripe and a thin, slightly curved bill.

Males and females look alike, with juveniles resembling adults but showing less distinct barring. The wren's plumage remains consistent year-round, with no seasonal variations.

Juveniles appear similar to adults but have streaking on the breast and less barring on the flanks. Their overall colour is a warmer reddish shade, and they may still have a bright yellow gape to encourage feeding from their parents.

Size

Length

9cm to 10cm

Wingspan

13cm to 17cm

Weight

7g to 12g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

Buff White

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Eurasian Wren can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Eurasian Wren can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Eurasian Wren is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Eurasian Wren is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Eurasian Wren can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Eurasian Wren is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Eurasian Wren is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Eurasian Wren is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Eurasian Wren is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Eurasian Wren is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Eurasian Wren is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Eurasian Wren is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

The Eurasian Wren is widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It inhabits a variety of environments, including woodlands, hedgerows, gardens, and rocky areas with dense vegetation.

This wren is a common resident of the UK and is found throughout the country. Some northern populations may move south during harsh winters, while those in milder regions tend to be sedentary.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 4,575 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Eurasian Wren. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
© 2024 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Non-breeding
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Afghanistan Algeria Andorra Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bermuda Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Egypt Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Jordan Latvia Lebanon Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Moldova Morocco Netherlands Palestine Portugal Romania Russia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Syria The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkey Ukraine
Species that are present in the area during their breeding season
Albania Armenia Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina China Georgia India Israel Japan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Mongolia Montenegro Myanmar Nepal North Korea Norway Pakistan Poland Russia Serbia South Korea Taiwan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan
Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season
Kuwait
Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range
Kuwait

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 90

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Eurasian Wren displays remarkable agility, constantly flitting through undergrowth and climbing vertically on tree trunks and walls. Its ability to navigate dense vegetation and explore crevices demonstrates exceptional manoeuvrability for its size.

Strength 20

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As one of Europe's smallest birds, the Eurasian Wren has limited physical strength. However, it can still manage tasks like nest-building and foraging effectively, despite its diminutive size.

Adaptability 85

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

This species shows high adaptability, inhabiting a wide range of environments from sea level to 4,575 metres. Its ability to thrive in various habitats, including woodlands, gardens, and urban areas, indicates strong adaptive capabilities.

Aggressiveness 70

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Despite their small size, Eurasian Wrens are fiercely territorial. Males vigorously defend their areas through loud, complex songs and engage in intense 'song battles'. This behaviour suggests a relatively high level of aggressiveness for their size.

Endurance 65

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Eurasian Wren demonstrates good endurance through its constant activity and ability to survive in diverse climates. However, severe winters can cause significant population declines, indicating some limitations to its endurance in extreme conditions.

Diet

Eurasian Wrens primarily feed on small invertebrates, including spiders, insects, and their larvae. They forage in low vegetation, leaf litter, and crevices, using their thin bills to probe for prey. In winter, they may occasionally supplement their diet with small seeds and berries.

Behaviour

Eurasian Wrens are remarkably active, constantly flitting through undergrowth and exploring crevices for food. They often hop and climb vertically on tree trunks and walls, probing for insects.

Despite their small size, these wrens are fiercely territorial. Males vigorously defend their areas through loud, complex songs.

Vocalisation

The Eurasian Wren's song is remarkably loud for its size, consisting of a rapid series of high-pitched trills and warbles. It often ends with a distinctive rattling trill. The call is a sharp, metallic 'tic-tic-tic'. During territorial disputes, males engage in intense 'song battles'.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding season for Eurasian Wrens typically begins in April. Males build several dome-shaped nests from moss, leaves, and grass, often in cavities or dense vegetation. Females select one nest and line it with feathers.

The female lays 5-8 white eggs with reddish-brown spots. She incubates the eggs alone for about 16 days, while the male may continue to maintain other nests.

Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 17-19 days. Pairs often raise two broods per season and, in some cases, may attempt a third.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

While the Eurasian Wren is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss and climate change. Severe winters can cause significant population declines.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable habitats, including dense undergrowth in woodlands and gardens.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

215,000,000 - 500,000,000 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for movement in low vegetation and near the ground
  • Listen for their loud, trilling song, especially in spring
  • Check crevices in walls, tree roots, and dense bushes
  • Observe early morning when they are most active
  • In the UK, watch for them in gardens and woodlands year-round

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Winter Wren, Northern Wren, Jenny Wren

Family:

Troglodytidae

Average Lifespan

2 to 3 years

Predators

Main predators include domestic cats, small raptors like sparrowhawks, and occasionally larger songbirds such as jays.

Did You Know?

  1. The Eurasian Wren is one of the smallest birds in Europe, yet it has one of the loudest songs relative to its size.
  2. In cold weather, these wrens may huddle in large groups to stay warm, sometimes with over 60 birds in a single nest box.
  3. The species name 'troglodytes' means 'cave-dweller', referring to its habit of nesting in cavities and crevices.
  4. Wrens have the nickname Jenny Wren. This is because females get extremely vocal when her newly fledged brood is on site.

FAQs

Are Wrens good to have around?

Wrens, like most other birds, are wonderful to have in the garden. These busy little birds have a lovely voice and actively forage for pest insects like aphids around our homes.

Why do Wrens constantly chirp?

Wrens may call excitedly when faced with a threat like a cat or a dog. They will also chirp boldly at Magpies, which often raid other birds' nests.

How to attract Wrens

Wrens are not the most common visitors to bird tables, although you can attract them with the right foods. Your best chance is an open, platform-style feeder stocked with mealworms, suet, and peanuts.

A bird bath or pond will act as an added attraction, and the addition of a purpose-made Wren nest box might attract a breeding pair of these delightful birds.

What is a group of Wrens called?

Known collective nouns for a group of Wrens are as follows:

  • a chime of wrens
  • a flight of wrens
  • a flock of wrens
  • a herd of wrens

References

  1. 1 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2018. Troglodytes troglodytes. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T103883277A132200296.

    View source
  2. 3

    report, 2015: EBCC

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