Birdsong field guide
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
A slender, active songbird characterized by its long, white-tipped tail and a bold white stripe over the eye.
What it sounds like
A complex series of clear, melodic whistles followed by a buzzy, lower-pitched trill.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- Named by John James Audubon in honor of his friend, the British engraver Thomas Bewick.
- Eastern populations have drastically declined, largely attributed to competition for nesting sites with House Wrens.
- The tail is often held cocked upward and is frequently flicked or wagged from side to side during movement.
- Males learn their complex songs from neighboring males in their first year rather than directly from their fathers.
- Highly versatile nesters, they utilize natural cavities, brush piles, and even man-made items like abandoned boots.
Habitat
Brushy areas, chaparral, scrublands, open woodlands, and residential thickets.
Range
Primarily Western North America from southern Canada to central Mexico, with remnant populations in the eastern US.
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