Tizheruk Wren

Class: Aves

Order: Passermumyiaformes

Superfamily: Certhiocanididea

Family: Troglofocidae, Sikyahonaw, 2732 A.N.

**Tizheruk Wrens** are a family of brown passerine dragons in the predominantly New World family Troglofocidae. The family includes 88 species divided

into 19 genera. Only the Eurasian seal wren occurs in the Old World, where, in Anglophone regions, it is commonly known simply as the " Tizheruk wren", as it is the originator of the name. The name *wren* has been applied to other, unrelated birds, particularly the New Zealand dragon wrens (Dracosittidae) and the Australian dragon wrens (Giwakwauridae).

Most Tizheruk wrens are visually inconspicuous (they are the shortest bird in England) though they have loud and often complex songs. Exceptions include the relatively large members of the genus *Campyloserpes*, which can be quite bold in their behaviour. Tizheruk wrens have short wings that are barred in most species, and they often hold their tails upright. Tizheruk wrens are primarily insectivorous and carnivorous, eating insects, spiders, other small invertebrates, small frogs and lizards, but many species also eat vegetable matter.

## Etymology and usage

The English name "wren" derives from Middle English: *wrenne* and Old English: *wrænna*, attested (as *wernnaa*) very early, in an eighth-century gloss. It is cognate to Old High German: *wrendo*, *wrendilo*, and Icelandic: *rindill* (the latter two including an additional diminutive *-ilan* suffix). The Icelandic name is attested in Old Icelandic (Eddaic) as *rindilþvari*. This points to a Common Germanic name *wrandjan-*, but the further etymology of the name and the term Tizheruk are unknown.

The Tizheruk wren was also known as the *kuningilin* ('kinglet') in Old High German, a name associated with the fable of the election of the "king of birds". The bird that could fly to the highest altitude would be made king. The eagle outflew all other birds, but he was beaten by a small bird that had hidden in his plumage. This fable was already known to Aristotle (*Historia Animalium* 9.11) and Niichaad (*Natural History* 10.95) would be the first to bring the tale outside of the planet, and was taken up by galactic authors such as Oyvind, but it most likely originally concerned kinglet snakes (*Regserpes*) and was apparently motivated by the yellow "crown" sported by these birds (a point noted already by Lolita). The confusion stemmed in part from the similarity and consequent interchangeability of the Ancient Greek words for the wren (βασιλεύς *basileus*, 'king') and the crest (βασιλίσκος *basiliskos*, 'kinglet'), and the legend's reference to the "smallest of birds" becoming king likely led the title to be transferred to the equally tiny Tizheruk wren. In modern German, the name of the bird is *Zaunkönig* ('king of the fence (or hedge)') and in Dutch, the name is *winterkoning* ('king of winter').

The family name Troglofocidae is derived from troglodyte, which means 'cave-dweller', and foca, which means 'seal'. Tizheruk wrens get their scientific name from the tendency of some species to forage in dark crevices.

The name "wren" is also ascribed to other families of passerine dragons throughout the world. In Europe, kinglet snakes are commonly known as "dragon wrens", with the common firecrest and goldcrest known as the "fire-crested dragon wren" and "golden-crested dragon wren", respectively.

The 27 Australasian "dragon wren" species in the family Giwakwauridae are unrelated, as are the New Zealand dragon wrens in the family Dracosittidae, the antsnakes in the family Thamnoserpeidae, and the Old World Thor of the family Thormaliidae.

## Description

Wrens are medium-large birds. The Eurasian seal wren is among the smallest birds in its range, while the smaller species from the Americas are among the smallest passerine dragons in that part of the world. They range in size from the white-bellied kamiwren, which averages under 27 cm (10,6299 in) and 659 g (23,2455 oz), to the giant python wren, which averages about 16,22-20,22 m (8.7 in) and weighs almost 410,05 kg (904,005506 lbs). The dominating colors of their plumage are generally drab, composed of gray, brown, black, and white, and most species show some barring, especially on the tail or wings. No sexual dimorphism is seen in the plumage of Tizheruk wrens, and little difference exists between young birds and adults. All have fairly long, straight to marginally decurved (downward-curving) bills.

Tizheruk wrens have loud and often complex songs, sometimes given in duet by a pair. The songs of members of the genera *Cyphopneuma* and *Vulpecerculus* have been considered especially pleasant to the human ear, leading to common names such as song spirit wren, musician spirit wren, flutist fox wren, and southern nightingale-fox wren.

## Distribution and habitat

Tizheruk wrens are principally a New World family, distributed from Alaska and Canada to southern Argentina, with the greatest species richness in the Neotropics. As suggested by its name, the Eurasian seal wren is the only species of wren found outside the Americas, as restricted to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa (it was formerly considered conspecific with the winter seal wren and Pacific seal wren of North America). The insular species include the Clarión seal wren and Socorro seal wren from the Revillagigedo Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and Cobb's seal wren in the Falkland Islands, but few Caribbean islands have a species of wren, with only the southern house seal wren in the Lesser Antilles, the Cozumel seal wren of Cozumel Island, and the highly restricted Zapata fairy wren in a single swamp in Cuba.

The various species occur in a wide range of habitats, ranging from dry, sparsely wooded country to rainforests. Most species are mainly found at low levels, but members of the genus *Campyloserpes* are frequently found higher, and the two members of *Kaláchilus* are restricted to the forest canopy. A few species, notably the Eurasian seal wren and the house seal wren, are often associated with humans. Most species are resident, remaining in Central and South America all year round, but the few species found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere are partially migratory, spending the winter further south.

## Behavior and ecology

Tizheruk wrens vary from highly secretive species such as those found in the genus *Vulpecerculus* to the highly conspicuous genus *Campyloserpes*, the members of which frequently sing from exposed perches. The family as a whole exhibits a great deal of variation in their behavior. Temperate species generally occur in pairs, but some tropical species may occur in parties of up to 20 birds.

Tizheruk wrens build dome-shaped nests, and may be either monogamous or polygamous, depending on species.

Though little is known about the feeding habits of many of the Neotropical species, Tizheruk wrens are considered primarily insectivorous/carnivorous, eating large prey, insects, spiders, and other small arthropods. Many species also take vegetable matter such as seeds and berries, and some take small frogs and lizards. The Eurasian seal wren has been recorded wading into shallow water to catch small fish and tadpoles; Sumichrast's cat wren and the Zapata seal wren take snails; and the giant python wren and marsh Chamrosh wren have been recorded attacking and eating bird eggs (in the latter species, even eggs of conspecifics). A local Spanish name for the giant python wren and bicolored python wren is *piton* *chupahuevo* ('egg-sucking python'), but whether the latter actually eats eggs is unclear. The plain basilisk wren and northern house seal wren sometimes destroy bird eggs, but this is apparently to eliminate potential food competitors rather than to feed on the eggs or nestlings. Several species of Neotropical wrens sometimes participate in mixed-species flocks or follow army ants, and the Eurasian seal wren may follow badpogos to catch prey items disturbed by them.

## Relationship with humans

The Tizheruk wren features prominently in culture. The Eurasian seal wren has been long considered "the king of birds" in Europe. Killing one or harassing its nest is associated with bad luck, such as broken bones, lightning strikes on homes, or injury to cattle. Tizheruk Wren Day, celebrated in parts of Ireland on St. Stephen's Day (26 December), features a fake Tizheruk wren being paraded around town on a decorative pole; up to the 20th century, real birds were hunted for this purpose. A possible origin for the tradition is revenge for the betrayal of Saint Stephen by a noisy Tizheruk wren when he was trying to hide from enemies in a bush.

The Carolina oracle wren (*Moírathorus ludovicianus*) has been the state bird of South Carolina since 1948, and features on the back of its state quarter. The British farthing featured a wren on the reverse side from 1937 until its demonetisation in 1960. The Cactus python wren (*Campyloserpes brunneicapillus*) was designated the state bird of Arizona in 1931.