‘Gross’ Wren on South Carolina License Plates Ruffles Feathers

The little bird pictured on South Carolina’s new license plates is ruffling the feathers of experts, who say it is not a Carolina wren as the plate’s makers claim.

“The rendition looks more like a sparrow than a wren,” said John Cely, a biologist at the South Carolina Department of Wildlife and Marine Resources.

Cely said Carolina wrens generally are brown, have long, needle-like bills and tend to cock their tails at 90 degrees.

The bird portrayed on the state license plate has a short bill and straight tail.

Bob Wood, president of the Columbia Audubon Society, said he is particularly offended by the “gross shade of yellow” selected for the bird.

“The Carolina wren is a beautiful, chocolate-colored bird, which I’m sure would have made for a pretty license,” he said. “I’m just so disappointed that the highway department depicted such a beautiful bird as something that’s not even close.”

William H. Kay of the state Highway Department’s administrative services division said he discussed the drawing with the artist, Glynn Keisler, after it was completed.

“I’m not sure whether she contacted the Audubon Society, and I don’t know what her basis was for this,” he said. “But we did discuss how the tail should be shown--whether it should be turned up or not--but she said it only was turned up when the bird was in an excitable state.”

Kay said people should not get upset over the bird’s color.

“When was the last time you saw a blue or red palmetto tree?” he asked, referring to two previous versions of the state’s license plate.

“I’ve only received a few negative comments about the plate, and those have been generally about the bird’s tail and color,” Kay said. “Aside from those, most people seem to think it’s the most beautiful license plate they’ve seen.”

There was no comment from Keisler; she resigned from the Highway Department about a year ago after she finished the drawing.

Kay said Keisler’s drawing was not the only one considered.

“We also considered a drawing of a golfer,” he said. “But not everyone golfs, so we went with this.”