Everything about The Carolina Wren totally explained
The
Carolina Wren (
Thryothorus ludovicianus) is a common
species of
wren resident in the eastern half of the
USA, the extreme south of
Ontario and
Quebec,
Canada, and the extreme northeast of
Mexico. A distinct population in the
Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and
Belize is treated either as a
subspecies Thryothorus ludovicianus albinucha, or as a separate species,
White-browed Wren Thryothorus albinucha. Following a 2006 review, these are the only wrens remaining in the
genus Thryothorus.
T. ludovicianus is the
state bird of
South Carolina; its
specific name ludovicianus means "from
Louisiana".
Description
Typically 14 cm long and about 20 g in weight, it's a fairly large wren; among the United States species it's second largest after the
Cactus Wren. The upperparts are rufous brown, and the underparts a strong orange-buff, usually unmarked but faintly barred on the flanks in the southwest of the range. The head has a striking pure white supercilium (eyebrow) and a whitish throat. The race
albinucha is duller brown above and has additional white streaking on the head.
It is easiest to confuse with the
Bewick's Wren, a fairly close relative, which differs in being smaller but with a longer tail, grayer-brown above and whiter below. The Carolina and White-browed Wrens differ from the
House Wren in being larger, with a decidedly longer bill and hind toe; their
culmen has a notch behind the tip.
Song and calls
The Carolina Wren is noted for its loud song, popularly rendered as
"teakettle-teakettle-teakettle". This song is rather atypical among
wrens, which tend to sing songs which are similar to other wrens' songs. A given bird will typically sing several different songs. Only the male birds sing their loud song. The songs vary regionally, with birds in northern areas singing more slowly than those in southern areas.
The Carolina Wren also has a series of calls, including a rapid series of descending notes in a similar timbre to its song, functioning as an alarm call, and a very harsh and loud scolding call made to threaten intruders.
Ecology
The Carolina Wren is sensitive to cold weather. Since they don't migrate and stay in one territory the northern populations of Carolina wrens decrease markedly after severe winters. Because of this sensitivity to weather, gradually increasing temperatures over the last century may have been responsible for the northward range expansion seen in the mid-1900s.
Populations in Canada and the northern half of the US experience regular crashes following severe
winters, but their high breeding productivity soon results in a return to higher numbers. These birds are generally permanent residents throughout their range and defend territory year round; some birds may wander north after the breeding season.
They eat
insects, found in leaf litter or on tree trunks; they may also eat small
lizards or
tree frogs. In winter, they occasionally eat seeds, berries, and other small
fruits.
Reproduction
These birds prefer sites with dense undergrowth, either in mixed forests or in wooded suburban settings, in a natural or artificial cavity. The nest is a bulky, often domed structure, with a small hole towards the top. Nests of the more domestically-inclined wrens have been reported in a great variety of nooks and crannies in, about, or under buildings of various kinds, under bridges, or in holes in any structure such as a porch, fence-post, flowerpot, tree, house or barn. Almost any kind of receptacle may offer an acceptable nesting site. Pairs may mate for life.
Females typically lay between four to six eggs (normally over a period of several days) up to three times per year (but normally only twice). Eggs are oval, grayish-white and sprinkled with reddish-brown spots. Incubation is performed by the female only and lasts anywhere from 12-14 days, with the first young leaving the nest 12-14 days after hatching. Both the male and female feed the young. If conditions are right, the same nest may be used more than once.
Footnotes
Further Information
Get more info on 'Carolina Wren'.
|
External Link Exchanges
Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:
<a href="http://carolina_wren.totallyexplained.com">Carolina Wren Totally Explained</a>
Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned. |
