Robin or Wren?

These two get mixed up constantly. Here is what actually separates them, taken from each bird's own page.

A young robin in summer is brown and mottled, but it is robin-sized, stands upright on long legs and has a plain face with a large dark eye. A wren is a third of the weight, barred rather than mottled, and never stands tall.

Side by side

	Robin	Wren
Size	The reference bird — about 14cm, round-bodied, with a habitually upright stance.	About 9-10cm and roughly 10g — one of the smallest UK birds, far smaller than a robin.
Where you'll see it	Low perches, borders and freshly dug soil; on the ground far more than on feeders.	Low and deep in cover: ivy, log piles, hedge bottoms, dry stone walls, compost heaps and sheds.
What it eats	Worms, beetles, spiders and other invertebrates; berries and seeds in winter, plus mealworms and suet.	Almost entirely small invertebrates — spiders, beetles and larvae picked out of crevices and leaf litter.
When	Resident all year. Territories are held by both sexes through the winter.	Resident all year. Winter is when it is hardest hit and when cover matters most.
Status	Green listed	Amber listed

Still not sure? Describe what you saw and we will rank every garden bird against it — including these two.

Both descriptions are taken from the species pages, which cite the BTO and RSPB. Reviewed 2026-09-20.