Tuneful

R had an appointment in Stratford this morning, and knowing that there was another storm due to hit us later in the day, I decided to go to town with him and spend the time at Holy Trinity, practising my churchyard birding. Once again I was standing under one of the yews, quietly watching for birds to come down to the bird seed I'd sprinkled around the gravestones, when a tiny movement in the next tree caught my eye, as this little Wren emerged from its depths and paused to take stock of the area. It then dropped down onto the nearest monument and began singing at the top of its voice, sometimes tipping its head right back and closing its eyes, as if it was enjoying its own performance.

The Wren isn't much bigger than the Goldcrest I posted a couple of days ago, at perhaps 10cm long, to the Goldcrest's 9cm. It's a little rounder and chunkier though, weighing 8-12g, where the Goldcrest weighs on average just 6g. Still, the Wren is one of the UK's smallest birds - and yet, one of the most numerous, with the RSPB estimating that there are over eight and a half million breeding territories across the country. It seems to be able to live in almost any habitat, from clifftops through reedbeds to urban gardens, though it prefers to breed in woodland with flowing water nearby. 

In winter the population spreads out, presumably in search of food, but most Wrens don't stray too far from their natal areas. Even in winter some of them will defend their home territories, which is presumably what this one was doing today. Wrens are primarily insectivorous, feeding on many of the same arthropods as Goldcrests, but they will also eat seeds and berries in winter, and will paddle in shallow water to hunt aquatic insects and tadpoles. Being tiny they live on the edge, and cold winters can reduce the population by as much as 80%, but their breeding success is such that over the long term the population is regarded as being stable.

If you don't know the Wren's song - which is so loud it sounds as if it must be coming from a much bigger bird - you can listen to it here.