This little bird is a Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) and it is the official state bird of South Carolina. It is about the size of a sparrow and is dark rust brown on the back with a rusty rump and buff breast and belly. The throat is white and it has a prominent white eye stripe. Both sexes are similar.
These wrens prefer dense brush and streamside undergrowth and are more likely to be heard than seen, scratching around looking for insects. They also forage along tree trunks looking for snails and spiders.
These birds are monogamous and form lifelong bonds. Breeding begins in March and April. Males build several nests but the female only chooses one for the season. The nest is built in a natural cavity such as a tree stump or old woodpecker hole. They will also nest in a nest box and other oddities such as an old can or mailbox. The nest is dome shaped and made of a variety of objects including grass, leaves, sticks, feathers, paper and string. It is lined with hair or fur.
The clutch size is from 4 to 5 eggs but there can be more. They are whitish with brownish spots and flecks. The eggs are laid in a series of one per day. The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days. The eggs hatch within 24 hours of each other. During this time the male feeds his mate and the hatchlings. As the hatchlings grow, the female will help feed them during the day. There are two to three broods raised each year.
Carolina Wrens are non-migratory and are generally found in the southeastern United States. They range from southern Ontario, Canada, and southward into Mexico and parts of Central America. They are slowly expanding north and westward.
