Fact Sheet

Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus)

Range: North-western Pacific regions of North America

This bird can be found in damp deciduous and evergreen forests with lots of cover such as fallen trees, logs, and brush. Often live near a water source. During some seasons they may move to lower elevations with different types of trees, but these birds are mostly permanent residents of their areas.

Food Chain

Habitat/Ecosystem: Pacific Wrens often nest in the dense forest, and more preferably old growth forest, under story filled with lots of nooks and crannies to hide in (from dead trees to logs, ferns, bushes, vegetation, etc.) These birds are often permanent residence to the area, so they provide a stable predatory position for insects as well as a stable food source for the larger birds of prey or large cats. The PNW is a perfect habitat because the temperate rain forest allows for large old growth trees, lots of underbrush bushes, ferns, small plants, etc..., which provides homes for lots of animals. In addition, with the strong ecosystem, all lifeforms thrive from fish, birds, small animals, and insects, and predators, which in turn provides food throughout the food chain. 

Ecosystem Without the Pacific Wren: Without the Pacific Wren the ecosystems, their prey would have more room to grow instead of their population being kept back by the wrens. Although there are lots of small birds similar to the Pacific Wren the ecosystems may not be in jeopardy. Additionally they are more in the middle of the food chain so there are quite numerous amounts of small birds and prey that play a similar role. 

Pacific Wren Nest

Life of the Pacific Wren: Pacific Wren males begin nest building in the spring. These birds are excellent nest builders and use several different designs for their homes, also known as cock nests, from woodpecker holes to decaying logs, and he builds multiple in order to give the female a selection of choices. When he finishes construction he will entice the local females by singing his song. When a female is attracted, she will choose one nest she likes and line it with delicate material. The pair will lay around 7 eggs and brood a second time after about 2 1/2 weeks. The Pacific Wrens are insectivores but may eat berries. Both parents will bring this food for their young. The Wrens have a migration pattern that takes them more inland during the fall, and closer to the coastal areas for spring, but many are permanent residence in their areas. Pacific Wrens fall prey to domestic cats, bobcats, birds of prey, and other predatory rodents. Although they are often not in too much danger because they are very fast, small birds, that are very cautious. Pacific Wrens are like most birds, they are raised in the nest for about two weeks until they are able to fly and leave the nest which happens at about 20 days (Bird Web). They spend their lives sometimes in the same areas, called territories. Most migration is from their breeding areas to non-breeding areas. 

Conservation: While the Pacific Wren is not considered to be in any danger due to stable populations  in their regions, deforestation and clear cutting is reducing their habitats. Pacific Wrens, and other species, rely on the stable habitat of the under brush and thick tree growth that when forests are cut and the vegetation destroyed, the mostly stable territories of the birds are damaged. The impact of the timber industry on the birds is being studied, but data has shown a decrease in population since the 1980's.

Other facts:

• Although there is no records of the birds discovery, in 2010 the Winter Wren's western cousin was found to actually be it's own species after DNA tests and vocalization differences. The birds are nearly identical if not for those reasons. So the Troglodytes birds west of the Rocky's are known as the Pacific Wren, while those found in the East are the Winter Wren. These are decedents of the Eurasian Wren in Europe. 
• The Pacific Wren song is very long, complex, and carries loud and far for something coming from such a small bird. Its song "packs more than 30 notes per minute" (Timber Press). Here is an example of the song.
• These birds are very skiddish, fast, and often hop around their habitat. 

Sources:

Editors of All About Birds. "Pacific Wren" Cornell University. Web. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/overview. Accessed 4/21/18.

Editors of Bird Web. "Pacific wren" Bird Web. Web. http://www.birdweb.org/BIRDWEB/bird/pacific_wren. Accessed 4/21/18.

Sly, Nick. "The Winter Wren is Multiple Species" Blogspot. July 27, 2018. Web. http://slybird.blogspot.com/2008/07/winter-wren-is-multiple-species.html. Accessed 4/21/18

Editors of Timber Press "Birding Profile: Pacific Wren" Timber Press. September 12, 2016. Web. http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2013/09/birding-profile-pacific-wren/. Accessed 4/21/18.

Toews, David P. L."Pacific Wren". Birds of North America . Web. https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/pacwre1/introduction. Accessed 4/21/18.

Wikipedia "Pacific Wren" Wikepedia. March 9, 2018. Web. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_wren. Accessed 4/21/18.

Wright, Jane."Pacific Wren". Web. https://perceviaassets-mitchwaitegroup.netdna-ssl.com/api/image/birds_na_147/image/56477. Accessed 4/21/18.