A cinnamon-brown Carolina wren with a pale eyebrow stripe on a branch. — Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus

A small, loud, cinnamon-colored backyard bird whose song sounds like 'teakettle-teakettle-teakettle.'

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About the Carolina Wren

Carolina wrens are about 5 inches long, bright cinnamon brown with a pale eye stripe and a slightly curved bill. They live in the eastern United States in damp, brushy places, swamps, farms, gardens and backyards. They eat insects and spiders on or near the ground and visit feeders for mealworms and suet.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Thryothorus ludovicianus^[1]
Size: About 5 inches long.^[1]
Lifespan: About 6 years on average.^[1]
Diet: Insects, spiders and snails; mealworms and suet at feeders.^[1]
Habitat: Damp, brushy areas, swamps, farms, gardens and suburbs.^[1]
Where it lives: Eastern United States.^[1]
Group life: Alone or in pairs. Active by day.^[1]
Babies: 3 to 7 eggs, usually 4.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020).^[2]

Fun facts

Carolina wrens have nested in mailboxes and old shoes.^[1]
Their song sounds like 'teakettle-teakettle-teakettle.'^[1]
Their family name means 'cave dweller.'^[1]

Vocabulary

songbird: A perching bird that can sing; songbirds make up about half of all bird species.
cavity: A hole or hollow space, such as in a tree.
monogamous: Having only one mate.
insect: A small animal with six legs and a body in three parts: head, thorax and abdomen.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Carolina wren.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/carolina-wren (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Thryothorus ludovicianus (Carolina Wren).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/103887192/139754660 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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