This is Bird Note. If we ran down the list of our most familiar songbirds, like crows, robins,

and jays, we wouldn't have to go all that far to reach the wrens. They are little brown birds

with cocked tails and big voices. There are nearly 90 species of wrens in the world.

Nearly all of them reside in the Western Hemisphere, from Alaska to the Falkland Islands.

The majority live in Central and South America, and quite a few are exceptional singers.

Many wrens are small and secretive.

The white-bellied wren of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, ranks among the tiniest,

at just under four inches. The white-bellied wren is tough to get a look at, but its brisk

musical song reveals its presence as it skulks through the tropical underbrush.

The largest of the wrens, the giant wren, is found only in a small area of Mexico and Guatemala.

Giant wrens are as big as red-winged blackbirds, nearly nine inches long, with rusty brown

backs and white undersides. Far from shy, they call raucously as they chase one another through open woodlands.

Among all the wrens, which is the most legendary singer?

It's a tough decision, but many would choose South America's musician wren.

Okay. America's musician wren. Learn more about this little bird's special song on our website, birdnote.org.