Day 27: Carolina Wren

The Carolina Wren is a common species of wren that can be found in the eastern parts of the U.S. (from Texas to Florida and up to the northeastern states).

Carolina Wrens are fairly small, with a copper brown back, buffy colored underparts, and a distinct white eye-stripe. Males and females have identical plumage, but males are sometimes slightly heavier and have longer bills, wings, and legs.

We come in contact with Carolina Wrens fairly often in our backyard, and we often hear them before we see them. They have a loud and varied selection of songs and calls, most notably a song that sounds like "teakettle-teakettle-teakettle." When a Carolina Wren gets agitated or alarmed, it has a very harsh and loud scolding call.

This little guy certainly liked the suet feeder we put up, and we were able to get some decent photos.

Kind of a sad thing, but I read that Carolina Wrens are sensitive to cold weather. Since they don't migrate (they stay in one territory), populations can significantly decrease after a tough winter. They must have taken a hit in our area when we had the blizzards a few years ago. Thankfully, enough survived that we still see them regularly!