At 12.5 to 14 cm (4.9 to 5.5 in) long, with a 29 cm (11 in) wingspan and a weight of about 18 to 23 g (0.63 to 0.81 oz), the Carolina Wren is a fairly large wren; the second largest in the United States species after the cactus wren. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 5.4 to 6.4 cm (2.1 to 2.5 in), the tail is 4.5 to 5.6 cm (1.8 to 2.2 in), the culmen is 1.4 to 1.8 cm (0.55 to 0.71 in) and the tarsus is 2 to 2.3 cm (0.79 to 0.91 in). Sexual dimorphism is slight with males being larger than their mates. A study indicated that of 42 mated pairs, every male but one was larger than the female of the pair. The males were on average 11 percent heavier along with having longer wing chords.
Vermillion Flycatcher
Vermillion Flycatcher
Despite being socially monogamous, vermilion flycatchers will engage in extra-pair copulation. They also practice within-species brood parasitism, whereby females lay their eggs in the nest of another individual. Females build shallow open cup nests and incubate the brown-speckled whitish eggs. The male feeds the female during incubation. Two broods of two or three eggs are laid in a season lasting from March through June. Once hatched, both males and females feed the chicks, which are ready to fledge after 15 days.
Great Carolina wren photo, HJ. And the vermillion flycatcher photo is wonderful too, though it must be the lighting and posture here that we cannot see the bright red markings as distinctly as usual. Females have a white breast. Lovely pair of birds today, my friend.
Interesting that the females of the flycatcher will leave their eggs to other females of the same species to raise! Sadly that’s a trait some humans also exhibit.
I’d like to think that the animal kingdom is intelligent enough not to use us as a model…
Great information, HJ – thanks! Carolina Wrens have become one of my favorite birds, but I rarely even get a glimpse of them. Just hear their melodious brilliant loud singing from the treetops.
I love bird photos!
Thank you very much. 🙂
Great Carolina wren photo, HJ. And the vermillion flycatcher photo is wonderful too, though it must be the lighting and posture here that we cannot see the bright red markings as distinctly as usual. Females have a white breast. Lovely pair of birds today, my friend.
Thank you very much, Jet. If the vermillion is not breeding or molting, the plumage is dull and not bright. 🙂
Interesting about the flycatcher HG. How good to capture one with fly in mouth.
Thank you so much, Ashley. 🙂
Interesting that the females of the flycatcher will leave their eggs to other females of the same species to raise! Sadly that’s a trait some humans also exhibit.
Do we learn from the birds or they learn from us? Thank you, D. 🙂
I’d like to think that the animal kingdom is intelligent enough not to use us as a model…
Great information, HJ – thanks! Carolina Wrens have become one of my favorite birds, but I rarely even get a glimpse of them. Just hear their melodious brilliant loud singing from the treetops.
I’m lucky to see them and hear them daily. Thank you, Carol. 🙂
I love wrens but have never seen a Vermillion Flycatcher! Great shots, HJ! 🙂
Thank you very much, Donna. 🙂