Bird Guide

Eurasian Wren vs Northern House Wren

Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

Eurasian Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes

Tiny10 gForest

The Eurasian wren is a plump, sturdy bird with rounded wings and a short tail, which is usually held cocked up. It is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) in length and has a wingspan of 13–17 cm (5.1–6.7 in). It weighs around 10 g (0.35 oz). It is rufous brown above, greyer beneath, and indistinctly barred with darker brown and grey, even on the wings and tail. The bill is dark brown and the legs are pale brown, the feet having strong claws and a large hind toe. Young birds are less distinctly barred and have mottled underparts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Eurasian Wren
Recorded by Philippe_Grange · Song · Arrondissement de la Roche-sur-Yon (near La Roche-sur-Yon), Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France · CC0
Photo: Alexis Lours · CC BY 4.0
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Tiny11 gShrubland

Adult northern house wrens are about 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) long, with a 15 cm (5.9 in) wingspan and weigh about 10 to 12 g (0.35 to 0.42 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 4.7 to 5.3 cm (1.9 to 2.1 in), the tail is 3.9 to 4.4 cm (1.5 to 1.7 in), the culmen is 1.1 to 1.3 cm (0.43 to 0.51 in) and the tarsus is 1.6 to 1.8 cm (0.63 to 0.71 in). The subspecies vary greatly, with upper parts ranging from dull greyish-brown to rich rufescent-brown, and the underparts ranging from brown, over buff and pale grey, to pure white.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Northern House Wren
Recorded by JUAN ANTONIO ALONSO DE JUAN · Feeded chickens · La Florida Parque, Colombia · CC BY 4.0
Photo: kcthetc1 · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Eurasian Wren and Northern House Wren.