Conservation status: Green
The wren is a tiny brown bird, although it is heavier, less slim, than the even smaller goldcrest. It is dumpy, almost rounded, with a fine bill, quite long legs and toes, very short round wings and a short, narrow tail which is sometimes cocked up vertically. For such a small bird it has a remarkably loud voice. It is the commonest UK breeding bird, although it suffers declines during prolonged, severely cold winters.
Latin name
Troglodytes troglodytes
Family
Wrens (Troglodytidae)
Where to see them
Found across the UK in a wide range of habitats - woodland, farmland, heathland, moorland and islands. Most are found in deciduous woodland but it is least abundant in Scotland and northern England, with the smallest numbers found in upland areas. A regular visitor to most gardens.
When to see them
All year round.
What they eat
Insects and spiders
Population
| Europe | UK breeding* | UK wintering* | UK passage* | | - | 8,512,000 territories | - | - |