Editions

The Wren

The Wren

  • A Biography

From the bestselling author of The Robin: A Biography

The wren is a paradox of a bird. On the one hand wrens are ubiquitous. They are Britain’s most common bird, with 8.5 million breeding pairs and have by far the loudest song in proportion to their size. They also thrive up and down Britain and Ireland: from the smallest city garden to remote offshore islands, blustery moors to chilly mountains.

Yet many people, particularly a younger generation, are not sure if they have ever seen a wren. Perhaps because the wren is so tiny, weighing just as much as two A4 sheets of paper, and so busy, always on the move, more mouse than bird.

However if we cast our eyes back to recent history wrens were a mainstay of literary, cultural and popular history. The wren was on postage stamps and the farthing, it featured in nursery rhymes and greetings cards, poems and rural ‘wren hunts’, still a recent memory in Ireland particularly.

With beautiful illustrations throughout, this captivating year-in-the-life biography reveals the hidden secrets of this fascinating bird that lives right on our doorstep.

PRAISE FOR STEPHEN MOSS:

'A superb naturalist and writer' Chris Packham

'Inspired, friendly and blessed with apparently limitless knowledge' Peter Marren

'Moss has carved out an enviable niche as a chronicler of the natural world' Daily Mail

Reviews

  • "An enjoyable and constantly informative read"

    Rob Hume, Birdwatch

  • "This fascinating biography . . . A perfect Christmas present for any birder"

    Birdwatching

  • "[A] sweetly illustrated book packed with information and insights… A little bird tells me that this is a winner"

    Rose Shepherd, Saga

  • "[A] wide-ranging, absorbing account… [Stephen Moss] narrows focus on one tiny bird yet still manages to offer a wealth of stories from the past, anecdotes and literary allusions"

    Bel Mooney, Daily Mail

  • "A remarkably good, beautifully written and absolutely fascinating little book. Every birder…should read it, enjoy it and learn from it"

    Mike Everett, British Birds

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About the Author

Stephen Moss

Stephen Moss is a naturalist, author and broadcaster. In a distinguished career at the BBC Natural History Unit his credits included Springwatch, Birds Britannia and The Nature of Britain. His books include The Wren, The Robin, Mrs Moreau’s Warbler and Wonderland. He is the President of the Somerset Wildlife Trust and a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. Originally from London, he now lives with his wife and children on the Somerset Levels.

Stephen Moss

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