But why you should
Amazes me.
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Americans are fortunate. There are a lot of reasons, but one is the fact that we have several species of wrens. There is something about these birds that demands immediate attention. It might be their size, for most are small. It might be their songs, for most are good singers. It might be their trim, sleek-looking jauntiness—some might even call it cockiness. These birds are popular around mansions or weather-beaten shacks.
For those of us who live south of the area of severe winters, and east of the plains, the Carolina Wren might be classed as a favorite bird. Any wooded area, especially one with small streams running thru it, makes ideal habitat for this songster. The more tangles and brushy undergrowth, the better he will like it.
If you don’t happen to recognize any of his numerous songs, his size and coloring will lead to his identity. He is as large as a small sparrow (5½ to 6 inches), rufous red above with buffy under parts. He shows a white line over the eye and faint wing bars. The Bewick’s Wrens and Long-billed Marsh Wrens show a line over the eye, both are smaller. Bewick’s has white tips on the tail feathers, while the latter shows distinct stripes down the back.
That cheerful song,
Your roundelay,
Rings thru the woods