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Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) Alternate name(s): "Wren", "Winter Wren" German name(s): "Zaunkönig" Size: 9-10 cm; wing span 13-17 cm Body mass: 7-12 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.21-0.24

Europe: Family Group 17 Family Group 17 Table Dunnock Alpine Accentor Goldcrest Common Firecrest Madeira Firecrest Eurasian Wren Willow Warbler Common Chiffchaff Iberian Chiffchaff Arctic Warbler Yellow-barred Warbler Wood Warbler Western Bonelli's Warbler Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Eurasian Wrens are one of the smallest European bird species. Their plumage is highly cryptic. The front is light greyish-brown, with faint darker barring, especially on the sides. The back is darker grey-brown, with yet darker barring in particular on the wings. The cap is plain mid-grey-brown; the supercilium is light grey-brown. There is significant variety in details of the morphology of the different races; for example, the races of the northern Atlantic islands where the species is found are browner than the continental races. Eurasian Wrens have brown irises, a long, slender, slightly decurved bill with an upper mandible that is darker than the lower one, and orange-brown legs and feet. Eurasian Wrens almost always have their short, stubby tail cocked, which is a disinguishing feature.

Taxonomy, classification See Eurasian Wren at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Eurasian Wren is available HERE . There are about 27 different races of Eurasian Wrens, which - all together - populate most of Europe and parts of western, southern central and far-eastern Asia. For details see, e.g. Wikipedia . In Europe, Eurasian Wrens are found as permanent residents basically everywhere (including the Mediterranean islands), but not in southern and central Scandinavia (away from the Atlantic coastline), where they are found as summer breeding migrants. They are not present in the northern highlands of Norway and Sweden and the far North of Scandinavia. Also in the Baltic states, and to the East of there, they are found as summer migrants. In parts of south-eastern Europe, from the lower Danube catchment to the Dnjepr River, they are winter migrants. In addition to 3 races found only on Scottish islands, race "indigenus" is found on the British Isles, while in continental Europe there is the nominate race, "troglodytes". Eurasian Wrens have a preference for coniferous forest, often along the margins or in dense, shrubby undergrowth, and in dense shrubs elsewhere, such as e.g. clearings, edges of forest tracks or even in gardens.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "troglodytes" J. Pires reports finding Eurasian Wrens, nominate race "troglodytes", occasionally in Mora, Evora, Portugal. H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting a Eurasian Wren, nominate race "troglodytes", between Eltville and Walluf, Hessen, Germany, in January 2017. A Eurasian Wren, nominate race "troglodytes", was caught, ringed and photographed by S. Cuturilov in Ovcarsko-Kablarski Canyon, near Cacak, Serbia, in October 2017. Others were spotted by A. Sarok in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. D. Wilczynska reports finding a Eurasian Wren, nominate race "troglodytes", in Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, in October 2017. M. Thomas reports spotting a Eurasian Wren, nominate race "troglodytes", in Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in January 2019. G. Normand spotted a Eurasian Wren, nominate race "troglodytes", in Saint Denis, 10 km North of Paris, France, in February 2020. Another was found near Nieppe, Hauts-de-France, France, in April 2020. A. Sarok found Eurasian Wrens, nominate race "troglodytes", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. Race "indigenus" M. Eaton found a Eurasian Wren, nominate race "indigenus", near Padstow, Cornwall, England, in September 2019. C. Pears reports spotting a Eurasian Wren, race "indigenus", in Borrowdale, Cumberland, England, in September 2024.

Photos

Race "troglodytes"

ADULT

MALE

The (tentative) identification of the birds labeled as males is made based on their behaviour (territorial display and song), rather than morphology.

Near-frontal view of a male(?) Eurasian Wren issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Parque Ecologico do Gameiro, Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2023]

Near-lateral view of a male(?) Eurasian Wren issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Parque Ecologico do Gameiro, Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2023]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male(?) Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male(?) Eurasian Wren issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Near-frontal view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, October 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Wren with its tail cocked (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, September 2022]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, October 2017]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, October 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Saint Denis, 10 km North of Paris, France, February 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]

Dorsal view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, October 2017]

Comparison between a Eurasian Wren, right, and a Dunnock, left (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Eurasian Wren looking towards the observer; note the pale gape (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, Santa Justa, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, May 2023]

Lateral view of a juvenile Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, Santa Justa, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, May 2023]

Race "indigenus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Dorsal view of a Eurasian Wren (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Dorsal view of a Eurasian Wren exploring the remnants of a dry wall (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Borrowdale, Cumberland, England, September 2024]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - July

Eggs: 5 - 7

Incubation period: 14 - 16 days

Fledging age: 14 - 19 days

Some nests can have as few as 3 eggs in them, others up to 11. Depending on latitude, and the length of the suitable breeding season, Eurasian Wrens can have 1-2 broods per year.

Nest building: Male & female

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

The female will choose the nest site, the male will build the nest, and then the female lines it before taking on nest duties.

Nest

Type: (Domed) basket

Material: Moss, grass, leaves, fine twigs

Height above ground: 0 - 7 m

Nests can be placed in hollows, crevices or low in dense vegetation. Most nests are built low, with a median height of 1.2 m above ground or water level.

Sideways view of a Eurasian Wren nest low in a dense shrub (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2025]

Eggs

Size: 16.5 x 12.5 mm

Colour: White, with reddish-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary

Eurasian Wrens are sedentary in large parts of their European range. Only in north-eastern Europe are they migratory, spending the winters in south-eastern Europe.

Food, Diet

Close-up lateral view of a Eurasian Wren with its prey, a "Daddy Long Leg" spider (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, October 2017]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

eurwren_jp_20200318.m4a	(Portugal)	Contact call(?)	© JP
eurwren_jp_20200318_2.m4a	(Portugal)	Contact call(?)	© JP
eurwren_jp_20221229.m4a	(Portugal)	Territorial song(?)	© JP
eurwren_jp_20200520.m4a	(Portugal)	Territorial song(?)	© JP
eurwren_jp_20200722.m4a	(Portugal)	Territorial song(?)	© JP
eurwren_jp_20230217.mp3	(Portugal)	Territorial song(?)	© JP
eurwren_jp_20230217_2.mp3	(Portugal)	Territorial song(?)	© JP
eurwren_jp_20200318_3.m4a	(Portugal)	Various	© JP
eurwren_jp_20190528.m4a	(Portugal)	Various (+ Eurasian Blackcap, Short-toed Treecreeper)	© JP

More Eurasian Wren sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.