Bewick's WrenThryomanes bewickiiMedium-sized wren, slender and long-tailed. Dark brown above and pale grayish below with a bold white eyebrow. Slender bill is slightly decurved. Superficially similar to Carolina Wren but duller grayish-brown and slightly longer-tailed. Occurs in a variety of scrubby habitats, especially thickets and hedgerows in open woodland. Also at home in gardens, residential areas, and parks. Usually skulking, but sometimes perches conspicuously when singing. Song is variable, but usually includes high-pitched buzzes and musical trills.Troglodytidae bird family
Order Passeriformes · 6 selected species
Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.
Bewick's WrenThryomanes bewickiiMedium-sized wren, slender and long-tailed. Dark brown above and pale grayish below with a bold white eyebrow. Slender bill is slightly decurved. Superficially similar to Carolina Wren but duller grayish-brown and slightly longer-tailed. Occurs in a variety of scrubby habitats, especially thickets and hedgerows in open woodland. Also at home in gardens, residential areas, and parks. Usually skulking, but sometimes perches conspicuously when singing. Song is variable, but usually includes high-pitched buzzes and musical trills.Bewick's WrenThryomanes bewickiiMedium-sized wren, slender and long-tailed. Dark brown above and pale grayish below with a bold white eyebrow. Slender bill is slightly decurved. Superficially similar to Carolina Wren but duller grayish-brown and slightly longer-tailed. Occurs in a variety of scrubby habitats, especially thickets and hedgerows in open woodland. Also at home in gardens, residential areas, and parks. Usually skulking, but sometimes perches conspicuously when singing. Song is variable, but usually includes high-pitched buzzes and musical trills.
Cactus WrenCampylorhynchus brunneicapillusLarge, boldly-marked wren of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Look especially for bold white eyebrow and dense spots on underparts. Aptly named, this wren rarely strays from desert scrub with plentiful cactus, usually with areas of open ground. Typically seen in pairs or family groups, which are often quite vocal and conspicuous. Builds a large oval stick nest. Listen for harsh, grating calls.
Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianusMedium-sized wren, familiar and fairly common in eastern North America. Fairly bright rufous above and unmarked buffy below with a bold white eyebrow. Tail is often cocked up. Disjunct population on the Yucatán peninsula is duller brown. Superficially similar to Bewick’s Wren but much brighter and slightly shorter-tailed. Usually hides in dense thickets and hedgerows, often close to human habitation. Occasionally visits feeders, especially for suet or mealworms. Listen for loud, ringing song and variety of harsh scolding calls.
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesTiny brown bird that often holds its short little tail cocked up. Often sings from a fairly exposed perch, but at other times rather mouselike, creeping in brambles and understory. As such, can be quite inconspicuous. Favors wooded areas with a dense understory, as well as gardens, hedges in farmland, heathland, and coastal cliffs. Heard much more than seen: song is loud, bright, and musical, a varied series of trills and ringing warbles, repeated. Chipping calls can also give away its presence.
Sedge WrenCistothorus stellarisTiny, bubbly, buffy-colored wren of damp grassy areas. Brighter cinnamon wash on flanks. Compared to similar Marsh Wren, note head pattern: Sedge has streaky crown and much less obvious pale eyebrow. Sedge also has barred wings and lacks plain dark brown shoulder patch. Also note habitat differences: prefers damp weedy fields and meadows, not cattail marshes. Generally secretive, but perches up when singing. Like most wrens, small size contrasts with large voice: one or two introductory notes followed by a loud, sharp, metallic trill of varying speed. Breeds mainly in the central U.S. and Canada; winters to northeast Mexico.