Wren

Wren
/ren/, n.
1. Sir Christopher, 1632-1723, English architect.
2. Percival Christopher, 1885-1941, English novelist.
/ren/, n. (sometimes l.c.) Chiefly Brit. Informal.
a member of the Wrens.
[1915-20]

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Any of 59 species (family Troglodytidae) of chunky songbirds, found in the Western Hemisphere.

One species, Troglodytes troglodytes, has spread to the Old World; typical of the family, it is about 4 in. (10 cm) long and dark-barred brown, with a short, slightly downcurved bill, short rounded wings, and short cocked tail. Common throughout the Western Hemisphere is the house wren. The largest U.S. species (8 in., or 20 cm, long) is the cactus wren of southwestern deserts. Wrens hunt insects in marshes, rocky wastes, or shrubbery, revealing their presence by chatter and loud song. They nest in holes, in thickets, or on ledges.

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bird
      family name Troglodytidae, any of 59 species of small, chunky, brownish birds (order Passeriformes). The family originated in the Western Hemisphere and only one species, Troglodytes troglodytes, which breeds circumpolarly in temperate regions, has spread to the Old World. This species is called the winter wren in North America; in Eurasia it is known simply as the wren. Typical of the family, it is about 10 centimetres (4 inches) long, dark-barred brown (sexes alike), with short bill slightly downcurved, short rounded wings, and short cocked tail.

      Wrens hunt insects in marshes, rocky wastes, or shrubbery. They reveal their presence by chatter and loud song. Many species nest in holes; some build domed structures in thickets or on ledges. The female lines the nest with soft materials and lays 2 to 10 eggs. There may be three or four broods yearly.

      Common everywhere from Canada to Tierra del Fuego is the house wren (T. aedon); this barred gray-brown species is 12 cm long. The largest U.S. species is the 20-cm cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) of southwestern deserts; it is commoner in Mexico. Tiny wood wrens (Henicorhina) are found in tropical forests and the little marsh wrens (Cistothorus, Telmatodytes) in tropical and temperate wetlands. Exceptional singers include the Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) of the eastern U.S.; the canyon wren (Catherpes mexicanus) of arid western North America; and the musician wren (Cyphorhinus arada), often called organbird, of South America. The rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), the only U.S. wren with a streaked breast, nests among rocks from the Great Plains westward.

      A number of unrelated birds of small size or wrenlike appearance are called wrens. For New Zealand wrens, see Xenicidae. For Australian wrens, see emu-wren; fairy wren. In tropical America are gnatwrens (see gnatcatcher).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • WREN (C.) — Wren est le plus célèbre architecte anglais et, dans ses projets les plus réussis, probablement le plus éminent. Son œuvre est inégale, en partie à cause de son absence de formation, mais aussi parce que ses protecteurs et surtout la Couronne ne… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Wren — (r[e^]n), n. [OE. wrenne, AS. wrenna, wr[ae]nna, perhaps akin to wr[=ae]ne lascivious.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small singing birds belonging to {Troglodytes} and numerous allied of the family {Troglodytid[ae]} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wren — ist der Name folgender Personen: Bob Wren (* 1974), kanadischer Eishockeyspieler Christopher Wren (1632–1723), britischer Astronom und Architekt Phyllis Wren (* um 1910), neuseeländische Badmintonspielerin Thomas Wren (1826–1904), US… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Wren —   [ren], Sir (seit 1673) Christopher, englischer Baumeister, Astronom und Mathematiker, * East Knoyle (County Wiltshire) 20. 10. 1632, ✝ Hampton Court 25. 2. 1723; 1657 60 Professor für Astronomie am Gresham College in London, anschließend bis… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • wren — wren; wren·let; wren·ne·an; wren·ni·an; …   English syllables

  • Wren — a member of the WRNS Wren 2 Wren, Sir Chris|to|pher (1632 1723) an English ↑architect who built many churches in London, including ↑Saint Paul s Cathedral, and other buildings in the UK, such as the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Wren — Wren, OH U.S. village in Ohio Population (2000): 199 Housing Units (2000): 96 Land area (2000): 0.309842 sq. miles (0.802488 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.309842 sq. miles (0.802488 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Wren, OH — U.S. village in Ohio Population (2000): 199 Housing Units (2000): 96 Land area (2000): 0.309842 sq. miles (0.802488 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.309842 sq. miles (0.802488 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • wren — (n.) O.E. wrenna, metathesis variation of earlier werna, a West Germanic word of uncertain origin. Cf. Icel. rindill, O.H.G. wrendo, wrendilo wren. The bird s name in other languages usually denotes royalty (Cf. L. regulus), in reference to its… …   Etymology dictionary

  • wren — [ren] n. [ME wrenne < OE wrenna, prob. akin to OHG rentilo, ON rindill] 1. any of a large family (Troglodytidae) of small, insect eating passerine birds having a long bill, rounded wings, and a stubby, erect tail; esp., the house wren (… …   English World dictionary

  • Wren — Wren, 1) Matthias, geb. 1585 in London, aus einer dänischen Familie; war erst Lehrer in Cambridge, dann Caplan des Bischofs Andrews u. Rector in Feversham, Caplan bei dem Prinzen von Wales, Rector in Bingham, Canonicus von Winchester, Principal …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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