Pl. XIII
The Birds · Plate XIII
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Troglodytidae · Taxon 7513
| Length | 4.7–5.5 in (12–14 cm) |
| Wingspan | 11.4 in (29 cm) |
| Weight | 0.6–0.8 oz (18–22 g) |
Field marks
- Small, compact wren with a round body and large-headed look
- Rich reddish-brown to chestnut upperparts
- Warm buffy-orange underparts with a clean white throat and chin
- Long, bold white eyebrow stripe above a dark eye
- Long, slender, slightly downcurved dark bill
- Long tail, often cocked upward; wings and tail show dark barring
HabitatDense, brushy cover in open woodland, forest understory and edges, thickets, ravines, overgrown farmland, gardens, and shrubby residential areas.
BehaviorUsually moves alone or in pairs through low, tangled cover, hopping, creeping, and probing bark, leaf litter, and crevices for invertebrates; often holds the tail cocked while foraging and gives loud, repeated whistled songs.
Palette
reddish-brownchestnutbuffy orangewhitedark brown