About The Carolina Wren

The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is fairly large wren commonly found in the eastern half of the United States, the extreme south of Ontario and Quebec, Canada, and the extreme northeast of Mexico. The Carolina wren is the second largest species of wren after the Cactus wren and is about 14 cm long. It has an average weight of 20g when fully grown. Carolina wrens are a pretty shy species and are more often heard singing before being actually spotted. It doesn’t help either that they prefer to stay in places that have dense underbrush. Upon seeing a Carolina wren though it is easily distinguishable due to its reddish-brown upper parts, vivid orange-buff under parts, faintly barred flanks, a very prominent purely white eyebrow and a whitish throat. Newly hatched Carolina wrens have a slate-colored down. Juvenile birds develop plumage similar to adults except that it is a bit paler in color and has a softer texture. Their wing coverts are also tipped with white, eyebrows are a duller white, under parts are whiter and they have markings that look like bars or look a bit mottled on their flanks and the side of the head. Before acquiring the full adult plumage Carolina wrens get a partial post-juvenal plumage wherein it looks more like the adult plumage except for the wing part, which has white tips on the white coverts.