- Troglodytes cobbi
Identification
Length 13-14 cm, weight 17-20 g.
- A small wren
- Short tail, often held cocked over the back
- Dusky brown above
- Slightly paler below, with no distinctive markings
- Known to get paler during summer due to bleaching by the sun
- Juveniles in fresh plumage are rich chestnut on tail and rump, and has dark lores and ear-coverts
- Leucistic birds (with irregular white feathers) are frequent
Similar species
Differs from the Tierra del Fuego subspecies of House Wren Troglodytes aedon chilensis in being larger (House Wren only 11.5-12.5 cm), and slightly paler and greyer. House Wren is not recorded from the Falklands, but the Tierra del Fuego subspecies is migratory and could occur as a vagrant on the Falklands.
Distribution
Originally found throughout the Falkland Islands, but now confined to around 30-35 small offshore islets free of introduced sheep, rats, mice, and cats.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It is closely related to, and was formerly included, in House Wren.
Habitat
It is adapted to live in areas with dense, ungrazed tussock grass just above the high tide line, and forages onto the beach. It is not likely to occur around houses or in areas with farmed animals.
Behaviour
Often feed on invertebrates in the littoral zone of rocky beaches.
Breeding
The nest is cup shaped, made of sticks, grass and lined with feathers. 5-8 white, brown-speckled eggs are laid. The nest is placed between rocks or below tussock grass clumps.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2005. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes to Thrushes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334726
- Second half of this thread was mostly about House Wren taxonomy
- Birdforum thread discussing Cobb's Wren
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Cobb's Wren. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cobb%27s_Wren
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
