Laura Erickson's For the Birds

Carolina Wrens are ostensibly non-migratory, but some birds do disperse northward in spring, so there are occasional records north of their range. I once saw one in Port Wing, Wisconsin, all the way up on Lake Superior, and on April 10, 2024, on Park Point right here in Duluth! But they are not very hardy, so after harsh winters, northern birds disappear.

Their rich, ringing Teakettle! Teakettle! song provides an ethereal combination of loveliness and volume. Unlike other wrens in the genus Thryothorus, only the male Carolina Wren sings the loud song—in related species, both male and female sing together. One captive Carolina Wren sang almost 3,000 songs in a single day!

Pairs may form at any time of year, and the birds then remain together as long as they both shall live, hanging out together all day, every day, year-round, but when one dies, the other does find a new mate.