Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bill Rowe
Wrens are practically a New-World specialty: in all of Europe and Asia there is just one species, the Eurasian Wren, while in the Americas there are 87 of them, with a majority in the tropics. Here in the eastern United States we have six, of which the Carolina Wren is the largest (though actually not that large, at 5 ½ inches in length). It shares the family traits of a thin, decurved bill; fine barring on the wings and tail; and a habit of holding its tail cocked up. These wrens are basically woodland birds, but they have adapted very well to human habitation and can be found in cities and suburbs wherever there is enough shrubbery for nesting and staying hidden as needed. While their primary food is small arthropods (insects, spiders, and the like), they will eat a few seeds now and then and may visit your feeder to check it out. The song of a Carolina Wren is a loud, ringing chant, often in triplets, something like tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle!More than almost any other bird, they will persist in singing throughout the year; even in winter, when other birds have quit singing and limit themselves to simple call-notes, Carolina Wrens may liven up the woods (or the neighborhood) with their familiar caroling.
IDENTIFICATION: Besides being obviously a wren, the Carolina is colorful—a rich rufous-brown above and cinnamon-orange below, with a bold white eyebrow stripe. Nothing else is quite like it except for the rare (around here) Bewick’s Wren, which has the Carolina’s white eyebrow but is a more subdued brown above and grayish-white below, with white tail tips.
ST. LOUIS STATUS: Most of the time, a common year-round resident of woods, parks, and residential areas; it is the only wren that typically spends the winter here. In very severe winters, however, the Carolina Wren population may be decimated and may require several milder years to return to normal numbers.
Learn more and listen to the songs and calls of Carolina Wrens here.
