St Kilda Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes hirtensis

St Kilda Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes hirtensis)

St Kilda, Scotland
August 2003

The St Kilda Wren is one of a series of sub-species of Winter Wren which is found in the islands off north-west Europe. They are T. t. fridariensis from Fair Isle, T. t. hirtensis from St Kilda, T. t. zetlandicus from Shetland, T. t. borealis from Faroes and T. t. islandicus from Iceland.

By comparison with the nominate sub-species found in continental Europe, the wings, tail, bill and legs all get longer the further away from Britain. There are also differences in colour though it is unwise to rely on photos to show up such colour differences.

Judging by the gape and plumage, many of these birds are juveniles.

There is a discussion about "St Kilda Wren" in McGowan, R.Y., Clugston, D.L. & Forrester, R.W. 2003. Scotland's endemic subspecies. Scot. Birds 24: 18-35.

On the St. Kilda Wren they say: "Heavily barred, bill strong and long, distinctly paler and greyer than (other Scottish) sub-species. From the mainland form by larger size, heavier barring, generally greyer and less rufous."

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