Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
The Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) is a common wren found in 83 countries, weighing about 10 g. The Eurasian wren is a very small insectivorous bird and the only member of the wren family found in the Old World, specifically in Eurasia and Africa (Maghreb).
About the Eurasian Wren
The Eurasian wren is a very small insectivorous bird and the only member of the wren family found in the Old World, specifically in Eurasia and Africa (Maghreb). In Anglophone Europe, it is commonly known simply as the wren. It has a very short tail which is often held erect, a short neck and a relatively long thin bill. It is russet brown above, paler buff-brown below, overall finely barred darker, and has a cream buff supercilium. The sexes are alike.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Eurasian Wren sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, St. Pierre & Miquelon, North Korea, Malta.
When to see it
The Eurasian Wren can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Eurasian Wren?
- The Eurasian wren is a plump, sturdy bird with rounded wings and a short tail, which is usually held cocked up. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Eurasian Wren?
- The Eurasian Wren is a tiny sized bird weighing about 10 g.
- Where can you see a Eurasian Wren?
- The Eurasian Wren occurs in 83 countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany and Belgium.
- What does a Eurasian Wren sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Eurasian Wren on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Eurasian Wren?
- The Eurasian Wren is most easily confused with the Northern House Wren, the Southern House Wren and the Winter Wren.
- Is the Eurasian Wren endangered?
- The Eurasian Wren is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Eurasian Wren for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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