Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris)

OTHER NAMES: Short-billed Marsh Wren
Latin Etymology: Cistothorus ("shrub leaping") stellaris ("starry")

Alex Holt · Sedge Wren

Singing Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) at Buffalo River State Park, Minnesota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 7-10g/kg  /  Length: 10-12cm  /  Wingspan: 12-14cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Hearing a sedge wren in the grasslands of Northern Minnesota didn't prove too much of a challenge as they were one of the more vocal birds as I walked down the mown track. Seeing one on the other hand proved an entirely separate challenge as even when moving in the grass they never seemed to actually emerge from it which is a shame as they have a lovely subtle patternation.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Cistothorus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Midwest, Winters on Gulf Coast
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Heard in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Troglodytes ("cave dweller") aedon ("aedon")

Adult Northern House Wren (subspecies T. a. parkmanii) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Troglodytes aedon parkmanii
Weight: 10-12g/kg  /  Length: 11-13cm  /  Wingspan: 15cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most cosmopolitan native species of the Americas, found from Canada to Pategonia over practically every habitat inbetween. Most of the US and Canadian population is migratory, travelling down to Mexico and South Coast States - the exception to this is the birds I saw here - the California Coast population is the one resident one. There is postulating that the huge range and variety of this species could warrant it being split into at least four other species.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Troglodytes
SUBSPECIES: T. a. parkamanii, T. a.aedon, T. a. baldwini, T. a. cahooni, T. a.brunneicollis, T. a. compositus, T. a. nitidus, T. a. rufescens, T. a. martinicensis, T. a. mesoleucus, T. a. guardloupensis, T. a. musicus, T. a. grenadensis, T. a. beani, T. a. intermedius, T. a. inquietus, T. a. carychrosu, T. a. clarus, T. a. atopus, striatulus, T. a. columbae, T. a. albicans T. a. tobagoensis, T. a. audax, T. a. puna, T. a. rex, carabayae, T. a. tecellatus, T. a. atacamensis, T. a. musculus, T. a. bonariae, T. a. chilensis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Northern States, migrating to South Coast ones, resident in coastal California
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

OTHER NAMES: Wren, Jenny Wren

Latin Etymology: Troglodytes ("cave dweller") troglodytes ("cave dweller")

Adult Eurasian Wren (subspecies T. t. indigenus) at Summer Leys, Northants - April 2026

Featured Subspecies: Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus

Weight: 8-12g  /  Length: 10cm  /  Wingspan: 12-16cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Although technically the most common bird in Britain, the Wren isn't necessarily the very easiest to see, and it certainly isn't the easiest to photograph. It is the third smallest bird in Britain, after the firecrest and goldcrest but is far more numerous than either. It spends most of it's time on the ground or in low branches, and I sometimes mistake it for a rodent of some sort when I see some creeping little brown thing amoung the leaf litter out the corner of my eye. Though just a little brown bird, its perky stance and twitchy method of movement make it quite characterful, while these same traits play havok with trying to get a camera to autofocus on one.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Troglodytes
Subspecies: T. t. islandicus, T. t. borealis, T. t. zetlandicus, T. t. fridariensis, T. t. hirtensis, T. t. hebridensis, T. t. indigenus, T. t. troglodytes, T. t. kabylorum, T. t. koenigi, T. t. juniperi, T. t. cypriotes, T. t. hyrcanus, T. t. zagrossiensis, T. t. tianschanicus, T. t. subpallidus, T. t. magrathi, T. t. neglectus, T. t. nipalensis, T. t. idius, T. t. szetschuanus, T. t. talifuensis, T. t. dauricus, T. t. pallescens, T. t. kurilensis, T. t. fumigatus, T. t. mosukei, T. t. ogawae,  T. t. taivanus

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - The most abundant British bird - a resident breeding species (8,600,000 territories)

 - Seen at many sites including Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes and Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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