Wrens (Family Troglodytidae)
The wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World Family
Troglodytidae. There are about 80 species of true wrens in about
20 genera. The genus eponymous of the family is Troglodytes. Only
one species of Troglodytes occurs in the Old World, where it is
commonly known simply as the "wren"; it is called the winter wren
in North America.
Troglodyte means "cave-dweller", and the wrens get their scientific
name from the tendency of some species to forage in dark crevices.
They are mainly small and inconspicuous, except for their loud and
often complex songs. These birds have short wings and they cannot
see at night. Several species often hold their tails upright and sleep
on the ground.
They range in size from the whitebellied wren, which averages under
10 centimetres (4 in) and 9 grams (0.3 oz), to the giant wren, which
averages about 22 cm (9 in) and 50 g (2 oz). The dominating colours
are grey, brown, black and white, and most species show some barring,
especially to tail and/or wings.
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