More brightly colored than most wrens, and offering a rich musical song, Carolina Wrens are common in open woods and backyards from Missouri to the east including all of the southeast into Texas. These birds are cute and smart looking as they explore an area with quick movements. Singing males are easily heard, but both sexes can be more difficult to see as they flit and scamper, often in pairs, around tree trunks and brushy areas hunting for insects and spiders. From their quick, scurrying movements, at first glance, you might think they were mice. The adults live in pairs all year, and they may ‘duet’ at any season, with the female giving a chattering note while the male sings. The males sing different versions, but the typical song is a loud whistled, three-syllable phrase, “tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle,” which often sounds two-noted and is repeated a number of times. Calls include harsh, raspy sounds and a loud, descending cheer. These birds are common permanent residents statewide in Missouri.
Even though they are not large, Carolina Wrens are large compared to other wren species, around 5 ½” from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail. The adult upper parts are rich reddish brown above, with a pronounced white eyebrow. Underparts are a rich, warm buff with a whitish throat. There are no white markings on the back or the top side of the tail. The tail is often cocked upward. They have tweezers-like bills that help them pluck up insects while foraging. Male and female Carolina wrens are very similar, though males are, on average, slightly heavier. Males often have somewhat more prominent features, including longer bills, wings and tails. Juveniles are very similar to adults, with slightly lighter plumage.
The diet of Carolina Wrens consists of mostly insects including caterpillars, beetles, true bugs, grasshoppers, crickets, moths and many others. They will also feed on many spiders, some millipedes and snails. Their documented appetite for boll weevils made them welcome in the cotton-growing South. Carolina Wrens may even sometimes catch and eat small lizards or tree frogs. Wrens are tiny, energetic predators that help limit populations of insects and spiders. They usually forage in pairs, actively exploring low tangles, foliage, bark of trunks and branches, and the ground. Especially in winter, these birds will also eat berries and small fruits and some seeds including poison ivy berries. They will also visit bird feeders for suet, peanuts, and other items.
Cup nests are made of twigs and other various materials. Natural nest locations include tree hollows, cliff overhangs, and other small cavities, usually 3-6 feet high. Many nests are made in unusual locations near houses: inside the ends of carpet rolls, in clothes hanging on a line, in mailboxes, in porch planters, and so on. Often, several nests are started before the pair selects one. Carolina Wrens mate for life and typically forage together even after nesting is over, usually remaining together year-round. There are 1–3 broods a year of 5-6 (sometimes 4-8) eggs per brood. The eggs are white with brown blotches that are usually more concentrated at the larger end. The female incubates the eggs. The male may feed the female during incubation. Both parents feed the nestlings. The young leave the nest about 12-14 days after hatching.
You can invite Carolina Wrens to your property by setting up a nesting box that’s 3 to 6 feet off the ground. The nesting box can also help provide shelter during cold or extreme weather conditions, so it is a good idea to leave it up throughout the winter. Offer suet, peanuts, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, mealworms and other nuts in feeders. Wrens are also attracted to moving water, so adding a small fountain or a dripper in a birdbath during warm months may be helpful. Be sure to provide a source of water in all seasons. Use a birdbath heater to have unfrozen water through winter. Plant dense shrubs and trees for shelter and insect foraging. Leave seed heads on perennial and native plants and grasses to provide food for foraging through winter.
Sources:
National Audubon Society, https://www.audubon.org/
Missouri Department of Conservation, https://mdc.mo.gov/
Photos: Canva Pro
Hoffmann Hillermann Nursery & Florist 