common species resident eastern half united_states_of_america extreme south ontario canada extreme northeast mexico severe winters restrict northern limits range favorable weather conditions lead northward extension breeding range preferred habitat dense cover forests farm edges suburban areas state bird south_carolina seven recognized subspecies range differ slightly song appearance birds generally avoiding open extended periods time open investigate surroundings rarely stationary finding mate pairs maintain territory stay years sexes alarm calls males sing territory raise multiple summer breeding season fall victim brood brown headed species populations affected mercury contamination taxonomy described considered genus called placed subsequently separate genus initially created greek origin combination rush reed derivative leap spring jump means reed specific post classical latin term derivative means louisiana identifies locality specimen collected near new_orleans seven recognized subspecies southeast canada irregularly eastern southern quebec eastern united_states new_england southward texas northern florida florida florida approximately degrees region southward rest state dog island northwestern florida offshore islands mississippi coast mississippi southern texas extreme northeast eastern southwestern eastern san southern traditionally placed genus representative north_america recent dna work suggests closely allied distinct population mexico belize nicaragua guatemala treated separate species known white considered subspecies authors description long wingspan weight fairly large second largest united_states species standard measurements wing chord tail sexual slight males larger mates study indicated pairs male larger female pair males average percent heavier having longer wing chords differences subspecies crown rich brown appears chestnut colored shoulders greater rich brown series small white dots lesser primary secondary rich brown darker brown barring bars darker noticeable brown bars span tail white streak borders black extends shoulders ear gray grayish black chin throat grey buff chest flank belly warmer color sport grayish buff color iris reddish brown upper lemon colored paler base lower legs flesh colored subspecies contrast slightly smaller build possesses larger bill brown deeper colored color pale white contains darker chestnut deeper colored distinct tail markings paler darker races contains heavier bars plumage juvenile similar appearance plumage generally paler softer texture buff tipped wing streak white vent flanks bars august september partial plumage post juvenile darker color affects plumage wing tail develops stripe post adults time period pronounced color spring sexes similar appearance life span survival rates differ region male captured arkansas lived months old alabama oldest female male captured years old respectively mark recapture analysis analyzing survival probability captured monitored roughly percent banded died years similar species easiest species confuse differs smaller longer tail brown white differ house larger decidedly longer bill hind toe notch tip habitat distribution birds largely resident disperse range mild winters sporadically breed far north maine quebec mild winters certain parts range iowa prolonged periods snow potential expansion permanent breeding locations range eastern nebraska southern michigan southeast ontario new_england states mexican states gulf_coast united_states local occurrences likely breeding locations include southeast central kansas eastern colorado western oklahoma texas far maine new_brunswick occasional spotted colorado new_mexico arizona wyoming nova_scotia range increased northward westward regions past centuries massachusetts expanded westward northeastward southeastern location approximately years new_york population increased fold roughly years midwest states ohio michigan seen numbers birds increase early 1900s respectively expansion ontario occurred early reports explanations given include winter storms 20th century expanded forest habitats taking advantage urban areas containing especially winter adapt habitats natural habitats include types woodland oak mixed oak pine woodlands ash oak woodlands healthy preferred habitats forests edges swamps suburban yards abundant thick shrubs trees parks affinity dilapidated buildings yards man areas subspecies inhabit slash pine behavior song calls sing year round point daytime exception performing harsh weather conditions birds species family sings duet song control regions affect repertoire size males sing repertoire different phrase patterns average thirty patterns repeated minutes male song repeated times general songs range times repetition singing tail birds pointed downward general descriptions song include familiar names phrases sweet heart sweet heart come come sweet william males capable increasing repertoire song learning nature territorial defense habits song learning occur months life geographic barriers affect song repertoire size male study indicated distances separated close kilometres water barriers effect distance kilometres mainland barriers possess song control regions appear capable singing like male occasionally male suggested song perception plays role relevance different subspecies variations songs calls having rapid song contains notes races north songs confused kentucky song patterns similar different quality songs described richer ringing pace bird species songs described akin baltimore gray specifically calls northern cardinal occasionally mimic species pennsylvania led known mocking sexual selection study suggested tail length body size males wing length females lifespan sexes signs individual quality high quality tend mate like individuals antagonistic encounters involve tail wing suggested possible signaling use age life experience thought significant potential mates relatively short lifespan lifestyle large size male male defending territory selection given possible explanation sexual territorial predator defense sexes involved defending territory aspect territorial defense involves identifying proximity threat based bird song level degradation calls experiments involving capable degraded songs degraded songs acoustic conditions detect changes acoustic properties territories songs foliage song degradation determine proximity potential song bird appears degraded assume threat distant respond song degraded respond attacking birds territory potential enemies species birds neighbors designated dear enemies responses neighbors territories differ season spring respond aggressively neighbors fall major responses shown protecting nest alarm calls general response judge size potential threat blue jay avoid risk injury attacking produced birds likely taken aggressive threat male males females utilize calls alarm situations especially territorial disputes encounters predators males produce cheer sound indistinct southern regions range sound males use alarm disputes ringing pink sound females ones perform paired sounds territorial disputes predators northern populations songs males cheer chant exclusively territorial encounters male song song follow overlap mate song feeding spend majority time near ground searching food vegetation probe bark lower tree levels pick leaf litter order search prey diet consists invertebrates beetles true bugs spiders ants bees small tree frogs portion diet vegetable matter makes small percentage fruit pulp seeds northern portion range frequent bird movement wary heard seen ground objects man natural moving abruptly pause momentarily singing stationary motions breast sand displays behavior encountered humans seen cover slowly approaching detected occasionally seek humans near long movement movements involve capable crawling like hanging upside like flights generally short duration rapid low leveled wings flight rapidly frequently foraging capable flying vertically base tree single wing assisted bound breeding genetically socially usually mate life mate changing rare possible instance winter season males responsible guarding territory females vary succeeding maintain winter territories mate suggested possibility decline care taking males need security resources year round prevent extra pair females mortality rate peaks winter benefits thought reinforce pair bonding prevent divorce mates nests arch shaped structures entrance built dried plants strips bark string wool snake males obtain nesting materials females remains site construct nest nests located fragmented complete trees man structures bird boxes buildings tin cans unorthodox places pockets hanging jackets sheds tractor everyday use nests ground rarely higher occasionally built sloping locations ground level egg laying dates clutch size vary region texas time period late february late august iowa ranges late april june clutch size generally eggs reach high seven texas eggs white brown reddish brown spots heavily marked broad end eggs female days young hatch fed exclusively invertebrates days raised pair single breeding season study remained defended territory adjacent area male females involved process similar rates nest stages males providing slightly stages sexes increase provision rates grow age predation threats brood brown headed common nests affected certain regions oklahoma alabama peaks april low july august respectively female eggs laying host eggs retained size eggs negatively affect hatching success eggs result significant impact reproductive success feeding rate higher feeding rates raised independence detrimental survival rare instance brood house recorded rate brood thought lower natural concealed nesting locations body parasites larvae feed blood loss fellow species winter compete nesting locations food respectively virginia populations high levels mercury blood acquired feeding year round spiders spiders higher levels contain higher concentrations mercury invertebrates year round residents higher risk species acquire mercury blood nest abandonment failure raise young common higher mercury content exposure prolonged periods cold ice snow thought affect adult populations respectively winters reside sheltered areas season predators adult domestic cats snakes black rat snakes feed eggs culture club adopted unofficial state bird eastern mourning dove pushed official state adoption south_carolina legislature named northern state bird legislature repealed previous decision official state bird featured south_carolina edition
Carolina wren