Wrens

One species on the India list — Eurasian Wren, the only member of this large, mostly New World family to reach the country at all, and here strictly a high-elevation Himalayan bird. It is tiny, round, barred rich brown all over, and habitually carries its short tail cocked up over its back, a posture that alone is usually enough to identify it at a glance.

Despite the size, it is a loud, emphatic singer for its weight, and the song — a fast, trilling run from low cover or a rock — is usually how it gives itself away before it is seen. It favours broken, rocky ground, streamsides, and forest edge near the treeline, often perching briefly on a prominent rock or post before dropping back into cover.