Carolina Wren Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
House Wren
Adult/immature
House Wrens are smaller, darker brown, and shorter tailed than Carolina Wrens. They also lack the white chest and eyebrow stripe of Carolina Wrens.
© Andy Witchger | Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, May 03, 2017Similar Species
Bewick's Wren
Adult/immature
Bewick’s Wrens are a grayer, longer-tailed western counterpart of the Carolina Wren. Where they overlap in the central U.S., look for the more subdued coloration of Bewick’s Wren compared with the warm buffy or reddish-brown of the Carolina Wren.
© Marlene Cashen | Macaulay LibraryWashington, March 04, 2017Main Species
Carolina Wren
Adult
Reddish brown upperparts contrast with buffy underparts and white throat and eyebrow. Wings and tail have bold darker barring, and bill is long and thin.
© Don Danko | Macaulay LibraryOhio, December 26, 2019Adult
Individuals from southern Texas and northeastern Mexico are boldly barred on the wings and tail, and have faint barring on flanks and back.
© Patrick Maurice | Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, February 13, 2020Male
Males sing a series of several quick, whistled notes, repeated a few times. The notes usually sound three-parted, as in "tea-kettle-tea-kettle" or "germany-germany."
© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 25, 2008Not all videos have sound
Adult
The loud, cheerful song is often heard before the bird is seen.
© Chris Thomas | Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, February 11, 2017Adult
Individuals often hold their tails cocked, emphasizing the black barring.
© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 20, 2010Adult
Forages fairly low in thick tangles of shrubs and vines; also on the ground.
© DAVID BROWN | Macaulay LibraryNew York, October 01, 2004Not all videos have sound
Adult
Individuals often perch bent over, holding their tails cocked.
© Scott Martin | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, March 12, 2017Adult
Note long, curved bill, strong white eyebrow stripe, and rich cinnamon underparts. Often holds tail cocked upward.
© Matthew D. Medler | Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 27, 2014Not all videos have sound
Adult
Visits feeders, especially during the colder months.
© P Smith | Macaulay LibraryPennsylvania, January 14, 2017Adult (White-browed)
Individuals from southern Mexico and Central America are dingy white below with cold brown upperparts.
© John van Dort | Macaulay LibraryCholuteca, October 11, 2019Adult
Amount of cinnamon on underparts varies; some individuals are pale, especially toward the throat.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryArkansas, March 01, 2005Not all videos have sound
Adult
Found in dense woodlands and shrubby habitats.
© Elizabeth Anderegg | Macaulay LibrarySouth Carolina, May 01, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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