Bewick's wren is a wren native to North America. It is the only species placed in the genus Thryomanes. At about 14 cm (5.5 in) long, it is grey-brown above, white below, with a long white eyebrow. While similar in appearance to the Carolina wren, it has a long tail that is tipped in white. The song is loud and melodious, much like the song of other wrens. It lives in thickets, brush piles and hedgerows, open woodlands and scrubby areas, often near streams. It eats insects and spiders, which it gleans from vegetation or finds on the ground.
Region
North America
Typical Environment
Found from the Pacific coast of southern Canada through much of the western and central United States into northern and central Mexico. Prefers brushy thickets, chaparral, hedgerows, riparian scrub, and open woodlands, often near streams or in semi-urban edges. Avoids dense closed-canopy forests and open desert without cover. Eastern populations have largely retracted, while western populations remain common.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Bewick's wren is the only species in the genus Thryomanes and shows striking regional song dialects. Once common in the eastern United States, it has declined there, likely due to habitat loss and competition with the house wren, but remains widespread in the West. It readily uses nest boxes placed in shrubby habitats.
Illustration from Audubon's The Birds of America
Bewick's Wren in Sacramento, California
Temperament
active and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, darting flights
Social Behavior
Typically forms monogamous pairs during the breeding season, with males often building several nest starts for the female to choose from. Nests are placed in cavities, crevices, or nest boxes, lined with soft materials. Both adults feed the young, and family groups may remain together briefly after fledging.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
The male delivers a loud, musical series of whistles, trills, and buzzy phrases, often from an exposed perch. Songs vary regionally, forming distinct dialects, while calls are sharp scolds and dry churrs used in alarm or agitation.
