Thryothorus ludovicianus
adult
The Carolina Wren is a well-marked and familiar little songbird. The sexes are similar, as are adults and juveniles. All birds have unstreaked, rich brown upperparts and warm buff underparts that are palest on the throat and breast. There is subtle barring on the wings and tail. The wing coverts have white tips that form incomplete wingbars (not present in the similar Bewick’s Wren. The head is marked with a striking white supercilium and a speckled gray face. The bill is thin and downcurved, and the legs are reddish.
The Carolina Wren is present year-round in its eastern North American range. It is mainly sedentary and so northern populations often crash in severe winters. The species is a familiar garden bird and by wren standards it is quite bold and easy to see. It could be confused with Bewick’s Wren where their ranges overlap, but Carolina has warmer-looking brown plumage, incomplete white wingbars, and lacks the white tips to the tail feather of Bewick’s.
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5.5 in (14 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates
HABITAT Woodlands, scrub, and gardens
STATUS Widespread and common resident
VOICE Song is a series of repeated fluty, whistling phrases. Call is a harsh, agitated tchee-tchee-tchee . . .
