Rufous wren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rufous wren |
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| Yanacocha Reserve, Ecuador | |
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| Genus: |
Cinnycerthia
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| Species: |
unirufa
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The rufous wren (scientific name: 'Cinnycerthia unirufa') is a small, reddish-brown bird that belongs to the wren family, called Troglodytidae. You can find these birds in the mountains of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. They love living in damp, warm forests high up in the mountains.
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Different Kinds of Rufous Wrens
Just like some animals have different types, the rufous wren has three main groups, called subspecies. These groups live in slightly different areas:
- C. u. unirufa: This group lives in northeastern Colombia and the very western part of Venezuela.
- C. u. unibrunnea: You'll find this group in most of Colombia, Ecuador, and the northern tip of Peru.
- C. u. chakei: This subspecies lives in the Perijá Mountains, which are on the border between Colombia and Venezuela.
What Does the Rufous Wren Look Like?
The rufous wren is about 16.5 cm (6.5 in) long. That's about the length of a regular pencil!
Colors and Markings
Most rufous wrens in Colombia and Ecuador are a dark chestnut-brown color. They have faint, dark stripes on their wings and tail. These stripes can be hard to see when the bird is moving around. The area around their eyes, called the lores, is also a bit blackish.
Birds living in northeastern Colombia and Venezuela are a little lighter in color. Their heads, or crowns, are especially paler.
How to Tell Them Apart
It's easy to mix up the rufous wren with another bird called the sepia-brown wren (Cinnycerthia olivascens). But the sepia-brown wren is less reddish and has stripes on its wings and tail that are easier to see.
Another bird that looks a bit similar is the rufous spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa). However, the rufous spinetail has a longer tail and no stripes on its wings or tail. Plus, its songs and habits are quite different from the rufous wren.
Where Do Rufous Wrens Live?
Rufous wrens live in the mountains of northern Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and southwestern Venezuela. They prefer high places, usually between 2,200 and 3,400 metres (7,200 and 11,200 ft) above sea level. Their favorite homes are in thick, damp forests in these mountain areas. They especially like places with lots of dense plants and bushes.
How Rufous Wrens Behave
Rufous wrens are often seen in small groups of a few birds. They sometimes even join up with other types of birds to form bigger flocks. They like to flit around quickly in the thick bushes and plants. You can often spot them in and around clumps of Chusquea mountain bamboo.
Their Song
These wrens have a beautiful and complex song. It's very musical and includes notes that repeat, fast trills, and short phrases. They often sing their songs in duets, meaning two birds sing together.
Is the Rufous Wren Safe?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) checks on animals around the world to see if they are in danger. They have said that the rufous wren is of "least concern". This means they are not worried about this bird disappearing anytime soon.
Why They Are Safe
The rufous wren lives in a very large area and is quite common. Even though their homes might be shrinking or getting broken up by human activities, their numbers are not going down fast enough to be a big worry right now. So, for now, the rufous wren is considered safe.
See also
In Spanish: Rufous Wren para niños
