MarkyMark's Nature Blog:- The Wren #9

Wren - Photo by Mark Appleton

I am staying with my sister during this lockdown. Luckily my sister has a garden with a big hedge, trees and bushes and a particular tall fir tree in the corner of the garden that acts as a bird perch. As the weather was good over Easter, I was very fortunate to sit in the garden. Not all people are lucky enough to get outside or sit in a garden so hopefully I can bring a little bit of nature to you. On several occasions I saw a small bird zooming back and forth across the garden. It was not until it perched on the small tree in the corner and let out its explosive song that I realized this was a Wren and hence prompted today's blog. Some of my photos are old ones that were not taken recently.

Wren - Photo by Mark Appleton

The scientific name for the Wren is Troglodytes troglodytes coming from the Greek word meaning cave dweller or hole diver. In other words, exploring dark crevices and holes while hunting or looking to roost. This is not the smallest bird but the second smallest bird in the United Kingdom (the goldcrest being the smallest by a quarter of an inch). It is the shortest bird though. It is a small dumpy and energetic bird  that is always on the move(so quite hard to photograph). It has a long thin bill and large feet and its short tail is often cocked above its back as in the picture above. It has reddish-brown upper parts and buffer coloured under parts both with delicate black barring.

Wren in woods - Photo by Mark Appleton

The Wren is Britain's most widespread bird. It is a successful species and occupies a wide variety of habitats in Britain and Ireland although it is is less commonly reported from gardens than one might expect. Its flight is straight, fast and generally close to the ground, as observed over the Easter weekend whilst sitting in the garden. The Wren is constantly searching for food, but often inconspicuous as it hunts among bushes, vegetation and crevices. 

It feeds on a wide range of insects including beetles, spiders, flies and ants.

Did you know:- in very cold winters the species can suffer 80% mortality rates, but is capable of recovery in just a few years. Wrens will nest communally in winter, with as many as 10 birds spending the night together in a single nestbox.

Wren Singing from perch in sisters garden - Photo by Mark Appleton

Even though Wrens are small, they are not difficult to locate if they are in full voice. This usually occurs between February and July. As seen on my sisters tall tree in her garden they sometimes sing from an elevated perch. For such a small bird, it has an incredibly loud and emphatic song and delivered with such force you can see the bird tremble. The song contains a distinctive trill, usually at its ending. Wren song can be heard by clicking on this link :-Wren Song

Wren singing in tree in sisters garden - Photo by Mark Appleton

Nesting begins now (second half of April) for the Wren. It is actually the male who builds the nests. He builds a number of nests, five to eight. Some of these are dummy nests which are not actually used but may help to divert potential predators. The nests are shaped like balls with a hole in the side and made from moss, leaves and grass. they can be found almost anywhere, hedges, ivy, tree truncks, holes, outbuildings and sometimes in other birds nests. The female will choose one of these nests and line it with feathers, hair and other material. 

Wren in the woods - Photo by Mark Appleton

The female lays 5 or 6  eggs that she incubates for about 16 days. Both the adults will feed the young who fledge after 15-19 days. They are then tended by their parents for another 9-18 days. There are often two broods. A male can have two mates especially in woodland habitat.

For more information click on these useful links:-

RSPB Wren
The Wildlife Trusts
BTO

and lastly

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