Carolina Wren
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae Genus: Thryothorus
Species: Thryothorus ludovicianus
Often confused with the Bewick’s Wren, the Carolina Wren has rusty orange plumage below while the Bewick’s Wren is light grey below. The Carolina Wren has an extremely loud voice for its size, and it can be heard from far away, yet is difficult to spot. A captive Carolina Wren was once recorded for singing almost 3,000 times in one day. It is usually the males that sing to assert their territory or alert other birds of potential threats, but females sing with them occasionally. Because of its sensitivity to cold weather, its population has been known to decrease after especially severe winters, and its range has been known to increase after mild winters. This species mates for life, and nesting pairs stay together even after breeding season. As its name implies, the Carolina Wren is the state bird of South Carolina.
Conservation status: Least concern
Description: Reddish-brown plumage on top and buff plumage on the underbelly; distinct white stripe on head over the eye on either side; males are 11% larger than females
Length: 5-6 inches
Wingspan: 8 inches
Diet: Invertebrates such as beetles, katydids, spiders, ants, bees, and wasps; sometimes eats small lizards and tree frogs
Habitat: Parks, woodlands, or backyards
Season: All year
Credit source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
