Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus

Looking much like slightly smaller, longer tailed Bewick’s Wren, but with richer brown tones, the Carolina Wren has a range extending across most of the eastern USA, while the Bewick’s Wren is a western bird. Both birds share an inquisitive demeanor. This bird has a loud song, much louder than the Bewick’s. Its piercing notes carry so well, a bird 100 feet away seems only a few yards from the listener.

Science recognises seven subspecies of this bird. All members look and sound similar, and because most of them are nonmigratory, perhaps the best way to determine race is by the territory they inhabit.

Though the females can (and will) sing, only the slightly larger males sing to defend territorial boundaries. Pair-bonds last for years, and often for life. Carolina Wrens are adaptable to many habitats, including oak and mixed oak woodlands, riparian woods, mixed and tangled undergrowth, swamps, farmland and suburban areas.Cold climates do not suit these birds, but they will expand their range north following mild winters. The past century has seen a significant expansion northward.