Giant wren

Giant wren
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Troglodytidae
Genus:	Campylorhynchus
Species:	C. chiapensis
Binomial name
	Campylorhynchus chiapensis; Salvin & Godman, 1891

The giant wren (Campylorhynchus chiapensis) is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is found in Mexico and Guatemala.^[2]^[3]

Taxonomy and systematics

The giant wren is monotypic. Though birds in the northern part of its range are larger, the difference is too small to assign geographical subspecies.^[3]

It has sometimes been treated as a subspecies of bicolored wren (Campylorhynchus griseus) and may form a superspecies with it.^[4]

Description

As implied by its name, the giant wren is the largest member of its family. It is 20 to 22 cm (7.9 to 8.7 in) long and weighs 43.4 to 57 g (1.53 to 2.01 oz). The sexes are similar. Adults have a black crown, nape, and shoulders. A white supercilium separates a black stripe through the eye from the crown and the rest of the face is also white. Their upperparts are bright chestnut and the tail dark chestnut; all of the tail feathers except the middle pair have a white band near the end. Their underparts from the chin to the belly are white; the belly and vent area are buff. Juveniles are similar to the adults but their underparts are whitish, not pure white.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

The giant wren was formerly considered endemic to Mexico's Chiapas state, from Puerto Arista south to near the Guatemalan border. However, since approximately 2010 there have been many sightings in far northwestern Guatemala. It inhabits bushland including areas much modified by humans such as farmyards, hedgerows, and fruit orchards. It occurs only within 50 km (31 mi) of the coast and from sea level to 300 m (980 ft) of elevation.^[3]

Behavior

Feeding

The giant wren's diet has not been documented but it is probably mostly invertebrates. It forages on or near the ground.^[3]

Breeding

The giant wren's breeding season is May through July. It possibly double-broods and there is evidence of helpers at the nest. The nest is a bulky ball with a side entrance, constructed of straw and other coarse fiber and often placed in an acacia tree. The only recorded clutch had three eggs.^[3]

Vocalization

Giant wren pairs sing in unison, "rhythmic hollow phrases, chortling and rollicking" [1]. Its calls are "grating and harsh churring" [2].^[3]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the giant wren as being of Least Concern. Its population apparently exceeds 20,000 and "is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats."^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b BirdLife International (2018). "Giant Wren Campylorhynchus chiapensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
^ Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (January 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.1)". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Kroodsma, D. E. and D. Brewer (2020). Giant Wren (Campylorhynchus chiapensis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.giawre1.01 retrieved May 31, 2021
^ Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 23 May 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved May 24, 2021