Wren

The wren is a family (Troglodytidae) of small, mainly brown, insectivorous songbirds, characterized by chunky bodies, tails that are often erect, and forceful rather than musical songs. The winter wren's (Troglodytes troglodytes) song is one of the longest (5-6 sec) and highest-pitched among Canadian birds. Songs of other species are much shorter and of lower pitch.

Range and Habitat
The family, comprising 75 species, apparently originated in the American tropics and spread north to Canada. The northernmost species, winter wren, extends into Eurasia.

Of the 8 species in Canada, 4 have limited ranges: Bewick's wren (Thryomanes bewickii), southwestern BC; canyon wren (Catherpes mexicanus), Okanagan Valley; rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), southern BC to southern Saskatchewan and rarely Manitoba; Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), southern Ontario.

Winter wrens inhabit boreal and transitional conifer forests across Canada. House wrens (Troglodytes aedon), native to more southern, broad-leaved woodland and scrub habitats, penetrate only a short distance north of the US border, except near the Rockies, where they reach 58° north latitude at Fort Nelson, BC.

The marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris) is found in cattail marshes transcontinentally, reaching its northern limit at Lake Athabasca. Sedge wrens (C. platensis) occupy wet sedge meadows. They occur only very locally in eastern North America. In Canada, they are common only in Manitoba but occur locally in Alberta. All are migratory, except in southern, coastal BC.

Nesting
All species build enclosed nests. Woodland wrens use tree holes (or nest boxes) and dense brush piles; winter wrens especially favour crannies among upturned roots of fallen trees. Marsh and sedge wrens construct spherical nests of grasses in low, wetland vegetation, often over water. Rock and canyon wrens use cliff crannies and rock piles.

Initially, males build several nests, only one of which is used. This occurs especially with marsh and sedge wrens. Clutches average 5-6 eggs (range 4-8).

Author A.J. ERSKINE

Links to Other Sites
All About Birds
Search this online bird identification guide for information on specific bird species found in North America. Click on the dynamic map of eBird sightings for a magnified view. From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the US.

Canadian Biodiversity Website
A great information source for all budding biologists. Learn about biodiversity theory, natural history, and conservation issues. From McGill’s Redpath Museum.