These 3-inch birds will tell you size doesn’t matter!
Small, big, thin, wide - size doesn’t matter as long as you know what to do with it!
Meet the WREN!! Most of which are only around 3 inches (8 cm) in size!
They are small, active, and energetic birds that belong to the family Troglodytidae. If you’re a fan of my blog, you’ll know that I don’t usually include the scientific name when writing about the birds. So why did I tell you guys about the family ‘Troglodytidae’?
Well, read that again: Troglodytidae - troglodyte! AKA, cave dweller!
:D
Okay, for those who are still confused as to why I’m pointing this out: in the modern day, ‘troglodyte’ is sometimes used as an insult if you think someone is being especially stupid or ignorant. As stupid and ignorant as a caveman, for example.
In reality, troglodyte refers to (especially in prehistoric times) a person who lived in a cave.
Why are Wrens named after ignorant cave dwellers? Are they dumb birds?
Not at all!
The Wrens belong to the family Troglodytidae, which is derived from the Greek word "troglodytes" meaning "cave-dweller" or "cave-dwelling."
This name was given to the wrens because in the past, wrens were thought to be birds that lived in caves.
However, it is now known that wrens do not live in caves. Rather, these tiny, adorable birds are most often found in hidden or secluded places, such as underbrush, thickets, and crevices in rocks. I suppose the first people who observed them simply assumed that these crevices were the same thing as caves?
What is a Wren?
I got so caught up explaining the etymology behind the word Troglodytidae, I almost forgot to actually introduce these birds!
The wren is a tiny brown bird. They sort of have a dumpy, almost rounded, body (which makes them even cuter!) with a thin bill, quite long legs and toes, very short round wings and a short, narrow tail. This tail is sometimes vertically erected, especially when they are in the middle of their birdsong.
For such a small bird, wrens have a remarkably loud voice, and many seasoned bird lovers will gush about how big their personalities are.
For those lucky enough to have a backyard, wrens are one of the most beloved backyard birds. Not only are they very tolerant of humans and will nest in just about anywhere with the right overgrown habitat, wrens are extremely energetic and will flick around from place to place, cocking their tail about, chirping and singing confidently!
There are 84 species of wrens in the Troglodytidae bird family, and they are found throughout the world, with the exception of the polar regions and some islands. Let’s learn about a few of them today!
The smallest Wren
Meet the tiny Winter Wren!
The Winter Wren is native to North America, where it is found in a wide range of habitats such as coniferous and mixed forests.
The reason for their name is because they are most commonly seen during the winter months. It’s not some sort of ‘reverse hibernation’ thing where the birds are more active in winter - instead, what happens in that during winter, leaves fall off the trees, which makes spotting these tiny tiny birds a lot easier!
In North America, during winter, most species of birds usually fly south for warmer weather and more food, too! But the Winter Wren - perhaps because they are so small, and they may find it difficult to make the arduous journey, or maybe because they are able to find enough food in winter without migrating - is a species of non-migratory bird.
The biggest Wren
This distinction goes to the Giant Wren! Native to the highlands of southern Mexico and western Guatemala, the Giant Wren grows up to 20 to 22 cm (7.9 to 8.7 in) long and has a distinctive long tail, which can make up more than half of its total length.
The Giant Wren's size is thought to be the result of a process known as island gigantism, which is a phenomenon where animals that live on islands grow to be larger than their mainland relatives. Of course, this process took millions of years - the species evolved over the course of natural history!
Anyway, island gigantism is a phenomenon that happens when there are fewer predators and more resources, such as food and nesting sites, available to animals. As a result, animals that live in these magical places don't have to devote as much energy to avoiding predators and finding food, which allows them to grow larger and larger and larger.
In the case of the Giant Wren, that’s exactly… 8.7 inches! Yup, huge!
Another theory as to why the Giant Wren got a little big bigger than its peers is because it lives in a high elevation habitat.
In the highlands of southern Mexico and western Guatemala, where the Giant Wren lives, the elevation gets up to around 2,000 and 3,500 meters (6,500 and 11,500 feet) above sea level.
This height is considered as ‘high elevation’. High elevation environments usually come with harsher conditions: things like colder, lower temperatures, high winds, and low oxygen.
All of these conditions are challenging for small-bodied animals, and so, a larger body usually helps an animal retain heat and survive in its high-elevation habitat.
All of these wrens are active, energetic birds that are known for their loud and complex songs. I hope you enjoyed learning about these cave dweller birds today. Their names are cool, but not as cool as they are!
I appreciated the etymology lesson, partly because troglodyte is such a fun word. :)