eNature Header
Guide to selected species of:

Acadia National Park

[x]

Carolina Wren
credit: Dan Pancamo/CCSA

Perching Birds

Carolina Wren  Thryothorus ludovicianus

Family: Wrens, Troglodytidae
Audio: Martyn Stewart, © Naturesound.org

Description  ADULT Has rich brown upperparts, with faint dark barring on wings and tail, and a striking white supercilium. Face is speckled grayish buff and underparts are warm buff. Bill is downcurved, and legs are orangeish. JUVENILE Similar to adult.

Dimensions  Length: 5 1/2" (14 cm)

Habitat  Widespread and common resident in gardens, scrub, and dense woodland. Mainly sedentary, and northern populations suffer badly in harsh winters.

Observation Tips  Easy to see and hear around houses and in gardens.

Range  Great Lakes, Texas, Plains, New England, Eastern Canada, Florida, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Rocky Mountains

Voice  Song is a rapid series of fluty whistles; call is a harsh, agitated tchee-tchee-tcheeÖ.

Discussion  Vocal and familiar garden bird and a colorful, well-marked wren. Where range overlaps with similar Bewick's Wren, separated by warmer colors overall, uniformly barred, brown tail (without white outer tips), and delicate white-spotted wing bars. Indifferent to, or sometimes curious about, human observers. Sexes are similar.

eNature Footer