Wren Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Wrens

The wren in Eurasia, Troglodytes troglodytes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Suborder:	Passeri
Superfamily:	Certhioidea
Family:	Troglodytidae Swainson, 1832

The marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris, one of the many American wrens

Wrens are small, active birds that belong to the family called Troglodytidae. Most wrens live in the Americas, but one well-known species, the Eurasian wren, is found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. There are about 80 different species of wrens in total.

These little birds are usually about 10 centimetres (4 inches) long. They are often brown, and both male and female wrens look similar. They have a short beak that curves slightly downwards, round wings, and a short tail. The Eurasian wren is known for being one of the shortest birds in Britain.

Wren Songs and Calls

Wrens are famous for their amazing voices! They sing a loud and powerful song that sounds like a gushing burst of sweet music. It's incredible how such a small bird can make such a big sound. In fact, a wren's song is about ten times louder, for its size, than a cockerel's crow!

The male wren has a long and complicated song. It includes many tinkling trills that can go on for several seconds. Sometimes, people might confuse the wren's song with that of a dunnock. However, the dunnock's song is shorter and not as strong. Plus, the wren's song has special trill sounds that the dunnock's song does not.

When a wren is annoyed or excited, it makes a quick, emphatic sound like churr. It can sound a bit like a clockwork toy winding down.