Everything about The Wrens totally explained
The
wrens are
passerine birds in the mainly
New World family Troglodytidae. There are about 80
species of
true wrens in about 20
genera, though the name is also ascribed to other unrelated birds throughout the world.
Troglodyte means "cave-dweller", and the wrens get their scientific name from the tendency of some species to forage in dark crevices. They are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud and often complex songs. These birds have short wings and a thin down-turned bill. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are
insectivorous, though some also feed on vegetable matter, and the larger—sometimes notably bold—species in of the genus
Campylorhynchus will take small vertebrates (for example
lizards).
They range in size from the
White-bellied Wren, which averages under 10 cm (4 in.) and 9 grams, to the
Giant Wren, which averages at about 22 cm (8.7 in.) and 50 grams (1.8 oz). The dominating colours are grey, brown, black and white, and most species show some barring, especially to tail and/or wings.
Only one species occurs in the
Old World, where it's commonly known simply as the "Wren"; it's called
Winter Wren in North America. The various species occur in a wide range of habitats, ranging from dry, sparsely wooded country to rainforest. The vast majority are found at low levels, but some members of the genus
Campylorhynchus and both members of the genus
Odontorchilus are commonly found at
canopy height. A few species, notably the Winter Wren and the
House Wren, are often associated with humans.
The 27
Australasian "wren" species in the family
Maluridae are unrelated, as are the
New Zealand wrens in the family Acanthisittidae, the antwrens in the family
Thamnophilidae, and the Wren-Babblers of the family
Timaliidae.
Genus list in taxonomic order
Revised following Martínez Gómez
et al. (2005) and Mann
et al. (2006). The taxonomy of some groups is highly complex, and future species-level splits are likely. Additionally, undescribed
taxa are known to exist. The
Black-capped Donacobius is an enigmatic species traditionally placed with the wrens more for lack of a more apparent alternative and/or thorough study. It was more recently determined to be most likely closer to certain "
warblers", possibly the newly-established
Megaluridae, and might constitute a
monotypic family (Alström
et al. 2006).
Genus Salpinctes
Genus Microcerculus
Genus Catherpes
Genus Hylorchilus
Genus Campylorhynchus
Genus Thryomanes
Genus Thryothorus
- Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
- White-browed Wren (Thryothorus (ludovicianus) albinucha)
Genus Cinnycerthia
Genus Cantorchilus (formerly included in Thryothorus)
Genus Thryophilus (formerly included in Thryothorus)
Genus Pheugopedius (formerly included in Thryothorus)
Genus Cyphorhinus
Genus Uropsila
Genus Henicorhina - wood-wrens
Genus Thryorchilus
Genus Troglodytes (10-15 species, depending on taxonomy; includes Nannus which may be distinct however)
Genus Cistothorus
Genus Ferminia
Further Information
Get more info on 'Wrens'.
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