Carolina wren

The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is a common species of wren resident in the eastern half of the USA, the extreme south of Ontario, Canada, and the extreme northeast of Mexico. A separate population in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Belize is treated either as a race Thryothorus ludovicianus albinucha, or sometimes as a separate species, White-browed Wren Thryothorus albinucha.

It is a fairly large wren, of the US species, second largest after the Cactus Wren, typically 14 cm long and about 20 g weight. 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 has additional white streaking on the head.

It is easiest to confuse with the Bewick's Wren, which differs in being smaller but with a longer tail, grayer-brown above and whiter below.

The Carolina Wren is noted for its loud song, popularly rendered as "teakettle-teakettle-teakettle".

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.