Passeriformes Troglodytidae Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
[order] Passeriformes | [family] Troglodytidae | [latin] Troglodytes troglodytes | [UK] Winter Wren | [FR] Troglodyte mignon | [DE] Zaunkönig | [ES] ChochÃn Común | [IT] Scricciolo comune | [NL] Winterkoning
Physical charateristics
Not smallest but shortest bird in west Palearctic, due to habit of holding tail erect; appears about half size of Dunnock. Tiny, restless, and pugnacious passerine, usually seen at or near ground level and at any distance appearing warm brown overall. At close range, rather long, thin bill, pale buff supercilium, barred wings and flanks, and often cocked tail catch eye.
| wingspan min.: | 13 | cm | wingspan max.: | 16 | cm |
| size min.: | 9 | cm | size max.: | 12 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 12 | days | incubation max.: | 18 | days |
| fledging min.: | 14 | days | fledging max.: | 19 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 4 | ||
| eggs max.: | 8 |
Distribution
Troglodytes troglodytes is a widespread breeder across most of Europe, which accounts for less than a quarter of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population
is extremely large (>23,000,000 pairs), and was stable between 1970-1990. The species underwent a slight increase overall during 1990-2000, with populations across the vast majority of its European range-including the sizeable one in the United Kingdom-stable or increasing.
This bird inhabits most of Eurasia and North America. On the Islands north of Scotland it is represented by a number of races, one of the most distinctive being the race fridariensis, endemic to Fair Isle.
is extremely large (>23,000,000 pairs), and was stable between 1970-1990. The species underwent a slight increase overall during 1990-2000, with populations across the vast majority of its European range-including the sizeable one in the United Kingdom-stable or increasing.
This bird inhabits most of Eurasia and North America. On the Islands north of Scotland it is represented by a number of races, one of the most distinctive being the race fridariensis, endemic to Fair Isle.
Listen to the sound of Winter Wren
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
Habitat
Winter Wrens are found most often in closed-canopy conifer forests at all elevations, although they also live in other forest types as long as there is dense understory. Within these forests, brush piles, fallen logs, and stream banks are all good places to find Winter Wrens.
Foraging habits
Insects and spiders are the predominant prey of the Winter Wren.
copyright
Breeding habits
Males establish and defend territories and attract females by singing. Males may nest with more than one female at a time. Nests are built in natural cavities, usually within six feet of the ground. The cavities can be in upturned roots of downed trees or rotten stumps, old woodpecker holes, rock crevices, under porches, or any other low cavity. Male and female build the nest together on a platform of twigs. The nest cup is made of grass, weeds, moss, and rootlets, lined with hair and feathers. The male may build several dummy nests that remain unlined. The female incubates 5 to 6 eggs for 12 to 16 days. Both parents feed the young, which leave the nest at about 19 days.
Conservation
This species has a large global range; the total size has not yet been quantified, but the Extent of Occurrence in Africa and the Americas combined is estimated to be 5,430,000 km². It has a large global population estimated to be 36,000,000 individuals (Rich et al. 2003). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern. (source Birdlife.org)
Migration
Migratory, partially migratory, and resident. Continental populations exhibit long- and short-distance movements, either on basically north-south axis or altitudinal, with many in southern parts of range sedentary. In Europe and probably in Asia, apparently unable to endure winter further north than c. -7°C January isotherm. Some individual birds make substantial journeys, e.g. British birds 50-250 km, Swedish birds up to 2500 km or longer. Movement essentially nocturnal; may begin as early as August.
Distribution map breeding season
Literature
Title Validity of ageing Wrens Troglodytes troglodytes on fourth primary spots
Author(s): Robin M. Ward and Chris du Feu
Abstract: Hawthorn (1971) described a criterion for ageing m..[more]..
Source: Ringing & Migration (2006) 23, 62-64
Title Effects of food supplementation on female nest attentiveness and incubation mate feeding in two sympatric wren species
Author(s): AARON T. PEARSE, JOHN F. CAVITT, AND JACK F. CULLY, JR
Abstract: We examined effects of incubation mate feeding on ..[more]..
Source: Wilson Bulletin, 116(1), 2004, pp. 23-30
Title Evidence for cryptic northern refugia
among high- and temperate-latitude species in Beringia
among high- and temperate-latitude species in Beringia
Author(s): Christin L. Pruett & Kevin Winker
Abstract: Stewart and Dalen (2008) argue that only temperate..[more]..
Source: Climatic Change, 2007