Wren Facts (Troglodytes)

Size: 9 – 10 cm head to tail

Weight: 8 – 13g (Equivalent to an old £1 coin!)

Wingspan: 13 – 17 cm

Eggs:  5 – 8 eggs per brood

Food: Insects and spiders

Nesting: Made from grass, moss and leaves and lined in feathers

Population: Stable

Song: A loud “teck teck teck” call and ends in a trill.

Wrens are the most common, abundant and widespread British bird. Its Latin name is Troglodytes, meaning cave dweller, the species is part of the Troglodytidae family. Other common names you may hear the Wren referred to are the Northern Wren and Winter Wren. In addition to being the shortest British bird it is also has the loudest song!

Appearance

The Wren is round and restless and can be easily recognised by their brown plumage and short cocked tail, which is repeatedly flicked.

A Wren’s underparts are pale with grey barring, the upperparts of their bodies are a darker brown. They have prominent pale eyebrows, a brown beak and pale brown legs.

Juveniles are almost identical to their parents except their pale eyebrow isn’t as prominent until they become adults.

Where they are found and what they like to eat

Wrens are most abundant in woodland but can be found in a range of other habitats including farmland, heathland, moorland and surrounding UK islands. This species is not as common in Northern England and Scotland as it is in the rest of the UK.

The Wren will regularly visit gardens and can be seen in the UK all year round. Wrens eat insects and spiders which they find along the ground with their bill. Occasionally they take seed from ground feeder tables, particularly in winter when food is scarce. For these birds, we offer all year ground/table mix or our popular robin mix.

Breeding

The breeding season begins during late April for the Wren. They have between 1 – 2 clutches a year consisting of 5 – 8 eggs per clutch. The eggs are 16mm by 13mm with a glossy white and red speckled appearance. Only the female incubates the eggs, she will sit on the nest for 13 – 18 days until the eggs hatch. The chicks are fed by both parents for 15 – 20 days until they fledge the nest. However, it is not uncommon for males not to help raise the young. Within the UK it is estimated that there are 8,500,000 breeding pairs of Wrens.

Nesting and Territory

The male builds the nest using grass, leaves and moss to make a globe shape in walls, holes and trees. When the female chooses a nest to use it will then be lined with feathers. Wrens have also been known to use open-fronted nest boxes and tit boxes for nesting and roosting. As many as 10 birds may huddle together in a single nest box during the winter to stay warm.

You are likely to hear Wrens singing at dawn as this is when intruding males will attempt to steal territory. Their alarm call is used to warn off other males, this is a loud “teck teck teck” sound. Females listen to the vocal contests before they choose a mate.

Extra Information

Previously, Wrens have appeared on the smallest British coin, the farthing. In severe winters the Wren population can be affected by as much as a 25% decrease, however their high egg productivity means that the population may recover quickly if the weather is kind in following years. The population is currently increasing steadily due to recent mild winters.