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5 days ago

This weeks critter is the:
Carolina Wren
Scientific name: Thryothorus ludovicianus
Length: 4.7 – 5.5 in. (12 – 14 cm.)
Weight: 0.6 – 0.8 oz. (18-22g)
Wingspan: 11.4 in. (29 cm.)

The Carolina wren is a small, chunky and round – shaped bird. The species is smaller than a sparrow and larger than a house wren. Both male and female adults are Reddish – brown or chestnut colored on the topside of their body with light cinnamon colored underparts. This bird has a bold white stripe above its eye, extending to the base of its head. The bill is long, thin and slightly down curved. The chin and throat of the bird is white. The tail of this bird is about the size of its body, and is often times cocked up. The wings and tail have bold dark barring. Individuals will perch bent over, holding their tails up which emphasizes the black barring. These birds are usually found in dense woodland and shrubby habitats. Individuals visit neighborhood areas and will visit feeders, especially during colder months. The Carolina wren is the state bird of South Carolina, and individuals have been known to live up to ten years.
Look and listen for Carolina wrens singing and calling in wooded areas. They like to creep around vegetation, looking for insects and fruit. It is considered to be a weak flyer, and tends to make brief, quick aerial forays over short distances. They like to move low through a tangled understory of vines and bushes. These birds are rarely stationary and avoid being out in the open for extended periods of time. In neighborhoods, this bird explores yard and wood, sometimes nesting there. This wren usually forages with its tail up. While singing, the tail is down. These birds defend their territories with constant singing and calling. They may use loud calls to defend against predators and intruders.
The Carolina wren is a common species of wren that lives in the eastern half of the United States, the southern part of Ontario, Canada and the extreme northeastern part of Mexico. They do not migrate and are somewhat limited by winter conditions. Severe winters restrict the northern limit of their range, while a mild winter will lead to northward extension of their breeding range. There are seven recognized subspecies of Carolina wren, each having a slightly different song and appearance. Individuals from southern Texas and northeastern Mexico are more boldly barred on the wings and tail and also are barred faintly on the flanks and back. Individuals from southern Mexico and central America are dingy white below with brown upper-parts. The Florida population has individuals that are larger and darker in color.
The loud and cheerful song is often times heard before the bird is seen. Both sexes use alarm calls, but only the males sing to advertise territory. Males sing a series of quick whistled notes. These are usually repeated in three parts, “tea – kettle – tea – kettle,” or “Germany – Germany.”
The Carolina wren’s diet mostly consists of insects and spiders. They climb and hop up branches, foraging for insects. They use their curved bills to turn over decaying vegetation and hammer larger bugs. Other food items for this bird include: caterpillars, moths, stick bugs, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets and cockroaches. On occasion, these wrens will eat lizards, frogs, or snakes. They also eat a small amount of plant matter, such as fruit pulp and seeds from bayberry, sweetgum or poison ivy.
Female Caroling wrens can begin laying eggs as early as March in southern populations and as early as April in northern populations. A pair may bond at any time of the year and will remain together for life. Individuals nesting in the northern part of the range usually raise two broods per year, while pairs in the southern region can raise up to three per year. Pairs stay bonded year- round and do not take a break from defending their territory. Carolina wrens nest in open cavities 3-6 feet off the ground, in trees or other more versatile areas. They may make use of flower pots and mailboxes. Carolina wrens nests have even been found in coat pockets and boots. Both males and females build their nests together. One may stay at the nest site while the other gathers materials. The nest is loosely constructed with a wide variety of materials being used (bark, dried grass, dead leaves, pine needles, hair, paper, string, shed snake skin, plastic). The first nest may take a week or longer to build, while later nests may take only 4 days. Multiple nests may be built before one is selected. The nest is cup-shaped and usually domed having a side entrance. Many times the nest has a woven extension similar to an entry-way or porch. Nests may vary in size, ranging from 3-9 inches long and 3-6 inches wide.
The clutch size of the Carolina wren is between 3 and 7 eggs. Egg length is about 0.7 inches long and 0.6 inches wide, and are white/cream or pinkish white with fine rusty-brown spots. Chicks emerge after a 10-16 day incubation period and are covered in pale grayish down. After fledging the nest, family groups will search for food together.
Carolina wrens will visit suet-filled feeders and in cold northern winters they will take shelter in nest boxes containing dried grasses. They particularly like boxes with slots rather than holes. During breeding season these wrens may nest in boxes, but are just as likely to choose a hanging plant or brush pile for a nesting site. Consider putting up a nest box to attract a breeding p air. Put the box up well before breeding season and attach a guard to keep out predators. Learn about offering shelter to backyard birds at www.allaboutbirds.org/how-to-provide-seeds-and-shelter-for-backyard-birds/. Keeping a brush pile in your yard is a great way to encourage wrens to take up residence there.

Sources
Dunne, P. (2006). Pete Dunne’s essential field guide companion. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York, USA. ... See moreSee less