Wrens are small songbirds that are often heard but not easily seen. They like to inhabit dense vegetation and brambles. Most wrens are small and inconspicuous, except for their loud and complex songs. They have short wings with barred patterns on most species and often hold their tails upright. Wrens are primarily insectivorous, eating insects, spiders, and other small arthropods. The document then describes the characteristics of 8 different wren species found in North America.

1. Wrens• More often heard than seen
• Like to inhabit brambles and dense vegetation
• Just because you know one is there you may not
see it
• Most wrens are small and rather inconspicuous,
except for their loud and often complex songs.
• Wrens have short wings that are barred in most
species, and they often hold their tails upright.
• As far as known, wrens are primarily insectivorous,
eating insects, spiders, and other small arthropods.
• Many Thanks to Rodger Shoemake, Jim Parrish,
and MerryLynn Denny for use of their images
1

2. Wrens
2
Guess which Wren is which and then click on the image
to see if you are correct

3. Rock
Wren
3
Small songbird.
Pale gray back.
Faintly striped throat.
Long, barred tail.
Long, thin bill.
Click to Listen to Songs
Back to test

4. Canyon Wren
4
Brown body.
White throat.
Bright rufous, barred tail.
Long, thin, decurved bill.
Click to Listen to Songs and Calls Back to
test

5. Bewick’s
Wren
5
Medium-sized wren
Slender body and a strikingly long tail often
held upright.
Long bills that are slightly down curved.
Subdued brown-and-gray wrens with a
long, Brow-like white stripe over the eye.
The back and wings are plain brown
Underparts gray-white
The long tail is barred with black and tipped
with white spots
Click to Listen to Songs Back to test

6. House Wren
6
Small and compact
Flat head and fairly long, curved beak.
Short-winged
Subdued brown overall
Darker barring on the wings and tail.
The pale eyebrow is much fainter in House
Wrens. Click to Listen to Songs
Back to test

7. Pacific Wren
7
Tiny woodland bird whose song is as
elaborate as its plumage is drab.
This wren is dark brown and mottled
overall
Buff eye-line
It has a short tail that it holds upright. Click to Listen to Songs
Back to test

8. Marsh
Wren
8
Small brown bird with thin bill.
Tail often held upright.
Dark cap.
Whitish eyeline.
Bold black-and-white streaks on back.
Buffy flanks, whitish chest.
Click to Listen to Songs Back to test