Interesting Carolina Wren Facts

1. The Carolina Wren is the State bird of South Carolina (of course!). Before it became the state bird of South Carolina though it had to beat out the Carolina dove, also known as the Eastern Mourning Dove, in a state bird campaign that was held in 1930. The effort to promote the Carolina Wren was led by Miss Claudia Phelps of the South Carolinas State Federation of Womens Clubs. Despite being the unofficial state bird since then the Mocking bird was declared the official South Carolina state bird in 1939. This was, however, repealed in 1948 and the Carolina Wren was finally given the official status of South Carolina state bird.

2. Carolina wrens do not migrate.

3. Severe winters take a toll on the northern populations of the bird species. The marked decline in their numbers during severe winters is to be expected. It is the result of two factors namely their non-migratory ways and the species sensitivity to cold weather.

4. The range of the Carolina wrens have been expanding northward since the mid-1900s. This was made possible by the warmer (and ever warming) winters.

5. The record for the longest lifespan of a banded Carolina wren belonged to a bird that lived up to 6 years and 2 months.

6. Carolina wrens make use of the usual materials like hair, feather, and other soft materials to build their nests. However, they also make use of snake skins as a common nesting material!