Skip to Content

All About Birds

All About Birds

Wrentit

Overview
ID Info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Wrentit Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
California, June 06, 2005Recorded by Curtis Marantz | Macaulay Library
Duet
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
California, June 06, 2005Recorded by Curtis Marantz | Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
California, May 05, 1988Recorded by Thomas G. Sander | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Wrentits sing a distinctive song reminiscent of a ball bouncing that lasts for about 4 seconds. In males this starts out as 3 to 5 pits followed by an accelerating trill; the ball bounces away. Females also sing but they catch the ball and sing only 3 to 14 pits without the accelerating trill. Both sexes sing at all hours of the day, all year long, although they are more vocal within the first hour after sunrise and early in the breeding season.

Calls

Wrentits give a churring call which sounds similar to someone rolling their r's. Wrentits give louder more emphatic calls when scolding a predator or intruder.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Looking for ID Help?

Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds.

Try Merlin Bird ID

More to Read

eBird
eBird: Help & FAQ
Why Birds Hit Windows—and How You Can Help Prevent It
Feeding Birds: a Quick Guide to Seed Types

How to Choose the Right Kind of Bird Feeder
NestWatch
Right Bird, Right House: Guide to Birds and Birdhouses for Your Region
Bird Academy
Bird Song Hero

Copyright © 2019 Cornell University

Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin

New call-to-action

Do not show this again

Search

Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape

Get Instant ID Help

Don't miss a thing! Join our email list

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.