Wren (Winter Wren)
Troglodytes troglodytes
  |
|
Distribution Britain 2,747 (-0.3%) Ireland 987 (-0.5%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 7,100,000 + Ireland 2,800,000 European status: 22,000,000 (41% in Britain and Ireland =1) British population trend: fluctuates, basically stable (+4% CBC){+69%} How likely are you to record it? 3834 squares (85.4%) Ranked 4 [1] |
These tiny birds are to be found all over Britain and Ireland — even on most of the remotest islands. Several island races have been named and recognised and the birds on St Kilda (hirtensis) were shamefully exploited by collectors in the 19th century — but no permanent harm was done. Breeding on some small islands is sporadic but there seems to have been no detectable long-term trend to the range (ubiquitous) or population (the commonest bird in many years). Locally the planting of conifers on open moorland will lead to increase and the clearing of woodland for farmland will cause declines. Short-term fluctuations in population after cold winters, and their recovery after mild ones, are well documented with the worst declines, such as after 1962/63, sometimes reaching 80% or more. The only significant changes recorded from the NRS is an increase in clutch and brood size. All seems well for a popular bird.
The following Bird On! picture is available:
Wren (Watercolour by Robert Gillmor)
The following Bird On! sketch is available:
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead