The Carolina wren is common in southeastern woods, where its song is heard even in winter. Learn about their nests and favorite foods.
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What Does a Carolina Wren Look Like?
Carolina wrens have slightly more reddish plumage than northern house wrens. These stocky birds have a white eye stripe, bright rusty-brown plumage and beige below. They measure about 5 3/4 inches long with a wingspan of 7 1/2 inches.
Scientific Name: Thryothorus ludovicianus
Family: Wren
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Carolina Wren Nest and Eggs
Pairs of Carolina wrens stay together, defending their nest and territory throughout the year. This species is not picky about nest sites and may build their bulky nests in tree cavities, woodpiles, birdhouses, flower pots and more. The female lays three to seven white eggs with significant reddish spotting.
“What can I do to attract a Carolina wren pair to my nest box?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Gwen Falkenstein of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “Carolina wrens have been known to nest in tin cans, boots, mailboxes, even a pocket of blue jeans hanging on a clothesline! But while they’re willing to nest in unconventional structures, they can be picky about the area where they’re willing to build. Carolina wrens prefer bushy habitat with lots of cover. If possible, allow an area on your property to become a bit more wild and unruly, and place a wren box near that area. You might also offer a supply of nest materials such as feathers, moss and small twigs to add more incentive.”
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Are Carolina Wrens Territorial?
“I noticed what looked like a Carolina wren flopping around on the ground. When I went to get a closer look, the flopping stopped. I could see one wren that was perfectly still and then realized a second bird’s feet were entangled with it. As I got a little closer, they separated and flew away. Could they have been mating?” asks reader Catie Snider.
Kenn and Kimberly say, “Members of the wren family can be surprisingly pugnacious for their size, and pairs of Carolina wrens will defend their territory against others of their kind at all times of year. Usually the male can drive away an intruder with loud calls and aggressive posturing, but if that doesn’t work, an actual physical fight can follow. The two wrens may peck at each other, grab with their feet and wind up rolling on the ground until one gives up and flies away. The mating behavior of Carolina wrens isn’t quite that energetic, and it doesn’t end up with the birds flopping on the ground.”
What Do Carolina Wrens Eat?
Their diet primarily consists of spiders, insects and some berries and seeds. They will come to suet feeders and may also eat peanuts, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, mealworms and other nuts.
Wrens are also attracted to moving water, so add a dripper or fountain to your bird bath.
Bird Song
Most types of wrens are really boisterous singers and the portly Carolina wren is no exception. Their repetitive song is often heard as “tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle,” or “Germany,” depending on which birder you ask.
Male wrens cycle through a repertoire of various phrasing. The bird has been called “mocking wren” because it sometimes sounds like a catbird, kingfisher or certain other birds.
Bird songs provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
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Range Map and Habitat
They are year-round residents throughout the eastern states. Look for these birds in brush and heavy undergrowth in wooded areas. Brush piles may help attract a breeding pair of Carolina wrens to your yard, as this species prefers a bushy habitat with lots of cover.
In winter, they’re occasionally found as far north as southern Canada. Support populations on the northern end of their range by offering suet for birds during cold snaps.
Range maps provided by Kaufman Field Guides, the official field guide of Birds & Blooms.
Next, learn how to identify a cactus wren.
About the Experts
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman are the official bird experts for Birds & Blooms. They are the creators of the Kaufman Field Guide series and they lead birding trips all over the world.
Sources
- All About Birds – Carolina wren
