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Wren Troglodytes troglodytes [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Troglodytidae
BTO Codes:
WR , WREN.
EURING No:
10660
Number in Britain:
8 million territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
zetlandicus (R), fridariensis (R), hebridensis (R), hirtensis (R), indigineus (R), troglodytes (W) recorded in Britain (of 41 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
10 cm
Wingspan:
15 cm
Weight:
M/F: 10 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: trogle =a hole + dutes =a diver
World Distribution:
Eurasia, North America
Habitat:
Forest, woodland, undergrowth
Diet:
Insects, esp beetles, spiders, usually feeds close to ground (<2m high)
TitBit:
According to legend the wren is greater than the eagle - one perched on an eagle's head so overflying it. A symbol of dark and earth, the tradition of the wren-hunt (latterly on St Stephens Day) dates to Neolithic times
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
8 million territories
in 2000
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Deciduous Wood
Also common in:
Scrub, Pasture Farmland, Villages, Towns, Coniferous Wood
And found in:
Arable Farmland, Grass/Heath, Marsh
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
21 to 36 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(I*), Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
16 x 13 mm
Egg Weight:
1.3 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
336
Clutch Size:
5 - 6 eggs
5.70 ± 1.13 (2 - 10) N = 3482
Incubation:
16 - 18 days
16.40 ± 2.27 (12 - 21) N = 3482
by the:
Female
Fledging:
15 - 18 days
16.40 ± 2.27 (12 - 20) N = 3969
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
2 May (14 Apr - 21 Jun)
Number of Broods:
1
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
14732
Adult Survival:
0.319
Juvenile Survival:
0.263 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
2
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
6yr8m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
AA
Wing Length
Adult:
48.8 ± 2.1
Range
46 - 52 mm, N =17388
Juvenile:
48.5 ± 2.0
46 - 52 mm, N =23612
Male:
50.3 ± 1.7
48 - 52.5 mm, N =3049
Female:
47.6 ± 1.7
45 - 50 mm, N =3808
Weight
Adult:
9.91 ± 1.61
Range
8.30 - 11.50 g , N =13989
Juvenile:
9.53 ± 0.96
8.10 - 11.20 g , N =18343
Male:
10.51 ± 0.70
9.50 - 11.50 g , N =2353
Female:
9.81 ± 2.00 .
8.30 - 11.60 g , N =3007
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Winter Wren
Gaelic:
Dreathann-donn
Welsh:
Dryw
Danish:
Gærdesmutte
Dutch:
Winterkoning
Finnish:
Peukaloinen
French:
Troglodyte mignon
German:
Zaunkönig
Hungarian:
Ökörszem
Icelandic:
Músarrindill
Irish:
Dreoilín
Italian:
Scricciolo
Norwegian:
Gjerdesmett
Polish:
Strzyzyk zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Carriça
Spanish:
Chochin
Swedish:
Gärdsmyg
Local Names: Stumpy Toddy, Sumpit, Our Lady's Hen
Collective Noun: Herd or Chime
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Armstrong, E. 1955 The wren Collins, London
[598.872 ARM]
Armstrong, E.A. 1992 The Wren Shire Publications, Princes Risborough
[Jour: S]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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