Musician Wren

Overview

The musician wren, also known as the organ wren, is a species of wren native to the Amazon rainforest in South America. It is named for its elaborate song and has six recognised subspecies with vocal and plumage differences.

Identification

• 12.5 cm long and weighs 18 to 24 g.
• Nominate subspecies has a rufous forehead, orange-brown cheeks, and a broad black and white striped collar on the nape.
• Bright orange-brown chin and throat contrasting with pale buff lower chest.
• Song consists of clear, haunting whistles with varying pitch; call is a harsh 'churk'.

Habitat

Native to the Amazon rainforest in South America, ranging from lowlands into the foothills of the Andes. It generally inhabits lower levels of humid forest and, in Brazil, also found in várzea. Elevation typically ranges from sea level to 500 m but can reach up to 1,400 m in Venezuela.

Diet

Forages primarily on and near the ground, searching debris and leaf litter, usually in pairs or family parties. Its diet is mostly invertebrates, including insects, spiders, and crustaceans, but it also eats berries.

Did you know?

In Portuguese, it is known as uirapuru, a name based on the Tupi uirapu ru, and is the subject of legends claiming that when it starts singing, all other birds stop to listen. It is also believed to bring good luck, leading some people to kill it for a stuffed specimen.