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Carolina wren
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Carolina wren
Recorded in Cape May, New Jersey, US
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Thryothorus (but see text)
Vieillot, 1816[2]
Species: T. ludovicianus
Binomial name
Thryothorus ludovicianus
(Latham, 1790)
Subspecies [3]
List[show]
T. l. berlandieri
T. l. burleighi
T. l. lomitensis
T. l. ludovicianus
T. l. miamensis
T. l. nesophilus
T. l. tropicalis
T. (l.) albinucha – White-browed wren
Range of the Carolina wren (T. ludovicianus)
Synonyms[4]
Sylvia ludoviciana (Latham, 1790)
The Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is a common species of wren that is a resident in the eastern half of the United States of America, the extreme south of Ontario, Canada, and the extreme northeast of Mexico. Severe winters restrict the northern limits of their range while favorable weather conditions lead to a northward extension of their breeding range. Their preferred habitat is in dense cover in forests, farm edges and suburban areas. This wren is the state bird of South Carolina.
There are seven recognized subspecies across the range of these wrens and they differ slightly in song and appearance. The birds are generally inconspicuous, avoiding the open for extended periods of time. When out in the open, they investigate their surroundings and are rarely stationary. After finding a mate, pairs maintain a territory and stay together for several years. Both sexes give out alarm calls, but only males sing to advertise territory. Carolina wrens raise multiple broods during the summer breeding season, but can fall victim to brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds, among other species. Some populations have been affected by mercury contamination.
Contents
1 Taxonomy
2 Description
2.1 Plumage
2.2 Life span
2.3 Similar species
3 Habitat and distribution
4 Behavior
4.1 Song and calls
4.2 Sexual selection
4.3 Territorial and predator defense
4.4 Feeding
4.5 Movement
4.6 Breeding
5 Predation and threats
6 In culture
7 Notes
8 References
9 External links
Taxonomy[edit]
The Carolina wren was first described under the name of Sylvia ludoviciana by John Latham in 1790.[3][note 1] Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot considered all wrens under the genus Troglodytes and called the Carolina wren Troglodytes arundinaceus but placed it subsequently in a separate genus Thryothorus (initially misspelled Thriothorus [2]) that he created in 1816.[7] Thryothorus is of Greek origin from the combination of thryon (rush, reed) and thouros (derivative of verb throskein to leap up, spring, jump at) which means 'reed jumper'; its specific name ludovicianus is a post-classical Latin term for Ludovicus (derivative from Louis XIV) that means 'of Louisiana' that identifies the locality of the specimen collected near New Orleans.[8][9]
There are seven recognized subspecies of the Carolina wren:[3][10]
T. l. ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) – Southeast Canada (Southern Ontario, irregularly in Eastern and Southern Quebec) and the eastern United States (Southern Wisconsin and New England southward to Texas and northern Florida).
T. l. miamensis Florida wren (Ridgway, 1875) – Florida from approximately 30 degrees (Gainesville) region southward through the rest of the state.
T. l. nesophilus (Stevenson, 1973) – Dog Island in Northwestern Florida.
T. l. burleighi – Burleigh's Carolina wren (Lowery, 1940) Offshore islands off of the Mississippi coast: Cat Island, Ship Island (Mississippi), and Horn Island.
T. l. lomitensis – Lomita wren (Sennett, 1890) southern Texas to the extreme northeast of Mexico (Tamaulipas).
T. l. berlandieri – Berlandier's wren (S. F. Baird, 1858) Northeastern Mexico (eastern Coahuila, Nuevo León, and southwestern Tamaulipas)
T. l. tropicalis – Northeastern Mexico (eastern San Luis Potosí and southern Tamaulipas).
T. ludovicianus is traditionally placed within its own genus as its only representative of North America, but recent DNA work suggests it is closely allied with the Bewick's wren.[11] A distinct population in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, and in Guatemala is treated as a separate species, either known as Cabot's wren or white-browed wren (Thryothorus albinucha).[3][12] It is considered a subspecies of T. ludovicianus by some authors, however.[10]
Campylorhynchus megalopterus
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Thryomanes bewicki
Thryothorus ludovicianus ludovicianus
T. l. albinucha
Cinnycerthia peruana
Thryothorus guarayanus
Thryothorus leucotis
Henicorhina leucosticta
Henicorhina leucophrys
Uropsila leucogastra
Cyphorhinus arada
Thryothorus maculipectus
Thryothorus coraya
Thryothorus sinaloa
Description[edit]
Carolina Wren in Greenville, South Carolina.
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).[3] Sexual dimorphism is slight with males being larger than their mates. A study indicated that out of 42 mated pairs, all but one of male was larger than the female of the pair. The males were on average 11 percent heavier along with having longer wing chords.[13]
There are several differences among the subspecies. For T. l. ludovicianus, the crown is rich brown that appears more chestnut-colored on its rump and uppertail-coverts. Shoulders and greater coverts are a rich brown, with a series of small white dots on the lesser primary coverts. The secondary coverts are rich brown with a darker brown barring on both webs; the bars on the primaries are on the outerwebs only, but darker and more noticeable. The retrices are brown with 18 to 20 bars that span across the tail. The white supercilious streak borders thinly with a black above and below, and extends above and beyond its shoulders. The ear coverts are speckled gray and grayish-black. Its chin and throat are grey that becomes buff on its chest, flank and belly, though the latter two are of a warmer color. The underwing coverts sport a grayish buff color. Its iris is reddish-brown, the upper mandible is lemon-colored and paler at the base and lower mandible. The legs are flesh-colored.[3]
As for the other subspecies in contrast to T. l. ludovicianus, T. l. berlandieri is of a slightly smaller build, but possesses a larger bill, the upperparts are duller brown with deeper colored underparts, T. l. lomitensis is of a duller color (than either ludovicianus or berlandieri) with its underparts either pale or almost white, T. l. miamensis contains darker rusty chestnut upperparts and deeper colored below. T. l. burleighi is duller and sootier with less distinct tail markings, T. l. mesophilus has paler underparts and a whiter supercilium, and T. l. tropicalis is darker than all races, and contains heavier bars than T. l. berlandieri.[3]
Plumage[edit]
The juvenile T.l. ludovicianus is similar in appearance, but the plumage is generally paler with a softer texture with buff-tipped wing coverts, a superciliary streak is less white, a fluffy vent and crissum (the undertail coverts surrounding the cloaca) without bars.[3][14] In August and September, the partial plumage molt for the post-juvenile wrens is darker in color and affects the contour plumage, wing coverts, tail and develops a whiter superciliary stripe. The post-nuptial molt for adults in the same time period is more pronounced in color than the spring molt, with both sexes similar in appearance.[14]
Life span[edit]
Sketches of Thryothorus ludovicianus, T.l. lomitensis, and Thryomanes bewickii (Bewick's wren) and one of its subspecies.
Survival rates differ by region. A male captured in Arkansas lived to be at least 73 months old, and in Alabama, the oldest female and male captured were six and ten years old, respectively. A mark-and-recapture analysis of the wrens analyzing survival probability within the Southeastern United States captured was monitored from 1992 to 2003. Roughly 90 percent of the banded wrens died within 10 years.[15]
Similar species[edit]
The easiest species to confuse with the Carolina wren is Bewick's wren,[16] which differs in being smaller but with a longer tail, grayer-brown above and whiter below. The Carolina and white-browed wrens differ from the house wren in being larger, with a decidedly longer bill and hind toe; their culmen has a notch behind the tip.[17]
Habitat and distribution[edit]
These birds are largely resident, and will only disperse beyond their range after mild winters.[3] Carolina wrens sporadically breed as far north as Maine and Quebec after mild winters.[3][18] In certain parts of their range, such as most of Iowa, prolonged periods of snow can curtail potential expansion.[19] Permanent breeding locations range from eastern Nebraska, southern Michigan, southeast Ontario and the New England states to Mexican states such as Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas and the Gulf Coast of the United States.[15] Local occurrences with infrequent and likely breeding locations include southeast South Dakota, central Kansas, eastern Colorado, western Oklahoma and Texas as far as Maine and New Brunswick.[15] There have been occasional vagrants spotted in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.[3][18]
Carolina wren at feeder
The range of the wrens increased northward and westward in several regions over the past few centuries. In Massachusetts, the wrens had expanded westward and northeastward from its former southeastern location in approximately 35 years, in New York the population increased three-fold in roughly 25 years, while in midwest states such as Ohio and Michigan have seen numbers of the birds increase since the mid-1800s and early 1900s, respectively.[15] Expansion around Ontario occurred since early reports in 1890 and 1905. Explanations given include infrequent winter storms in the 20th century, expanded forest habitats, and the wrens taking advantage of urban areas containing feeders, especially in winter.[15]
Carolina wrens adapt to various habitats. Natural habitats include various types of woodland such as oak hardwoods and mixed oak-pine woodlands, ash and elmwoods, hickory-oak woodlands with a healthy amount of tangled undergrowth.[3][20] The preferred habitats are riparian forests, brushy edges, swamps, overgrown farmlands, and suburban yards with abundant thick shrubs and trees, and parks.[3][20] It has an affinity for dilapidated buildings and unkempt yards in man-made areas.[20] Subspecies burleighi and neophilus inhabit slash pine and palmettos.[3][20]
Behavior[edit]
Song and calls[edit]
Carolina wrens sing year round and at any point during the daytime, with the exception of performing during the most harsh weather conditions.[20] The birds are also the only species in the Certhiidae family that neither sings in duet nor has their song control regions affect repertoire size.[21] Males alone sing, and have a repertoire of at least twenty different phrase patterns and on average, thirty two.[21][22] One of these patterns is repeated for several minutes, and although the male's song can be repeated up to twelve times, the general amount of songs range from three to five times in repetition. While singing, the tail of the birds is pointed downward. Some general vocalizations have been transcribed as teakettle-teakettle-teakettle and cheery-cheery-cheery.[14][20] Various descriptions of the teakettle song include whee-udel, whee-udel, whee-udel, che-wortel, che-wortel and túrtee-túrtee-túrtee and familiar names and phrases such as sweet heart, sweet heart, come to me, come to me, sweet William, and Richelieu, Richelieu.[14]
Males are capable of increasing their repertoire through song learning, but due to their sedentary nature and territorial defense habits, the song learning must occur within the first three months of life.[23] Geographic barriers affect song repertoire size from male wrens, as one study indicated that distances separated as close as 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) by water barriers can have the same effect as that of a distance of 145 kilometres (90 mi) in the mainland with no barriers.[23]
Female Carolina wrens possess song control regions that would appear to make them capable of singing with repertoires like the male. Due to vocalizations that they occasionally make with the male, it has been suggested that song perception plays a role and is of behavioral relevance.[21]
Carolina wren on Rutland Township Forest Preserve
Different subspecies have variations in songs and calls, such as miamensis having a more rapid song that contains more notes than the races that are further north.[3]
Their songs can be confused with the Kentucky warbler. The song patterns are similar, but is of a different quality, as the warbler's songs is described as richer, with more ringing and a hurried pace.[20] Other bird species that have their songs described as akin to the wrens are the flicker, Baltimore oriole, grey catbird, and more specifically the peto, peto, peto calls of the tufted titmouse, and whistles of the northern cardinal.[14] Occasionally, the wrens mimic other species, and in Pennsylvania it has led for it to be also known as the 'mocking wren'.[3]
Sexual selection[edit]
A 2006 study suggested that the correlation of tail length and body size in males, wing length in females, and lifespan for both sexes were signs of individual quality, and the wrens of high quality tend to mate with like individuals. The courting and antagonistic encounters that involve the tail fanning and wing drooping was suggested to be a possible signaling use. Age and life experience are not thought of as significant for potential mates due to their relatively short lifespan and sedentary lifestyle. Due to the large size of male wrens and the male's vigor in defending its territory, intrasexual selection was given as a possible explanation for the sexual dimorphism.[13]
Territorial and predator defense[edit]
Both sexes are involved in defending the territory. One aspect of territorial defense involves identifying the proximity of the threat based on the loudness of bird song as well as the level of degradation of the calls. In experiments involving playback, the wrens are capable of discriminating between degraded and undegraded songs, as well as degraded songs in the same acoustic conditions, and can detect changes of acoustic properties within their territories, such as songs under foliage.[24] Song degradation can also be used to determine the proximity of potential intruders. If the song of a bird appears to be degraded, the wrens will assume that the threat is distant not respond; if the song is not degraded, they respond by attacking.[25] Not all birds within their territory are potential enemies. Some species of birds that are neighbors are designated as 'dear-enemies' by the wrens, and the responses to neighbors and intruders in their territories differ by the season. In spring, the wrens respond more aggressively toward neighbors, though in the fall, no major discrepancy in responses is shown.[26] When protecting their nest, alarm calls are the general response. The wrens judge the size of the potential threat, such as a blue jay and avoid the risk of injury when attacking.[27] Countersinging produced by intruder birds is more likely to be taken as an aggressive threat to male Carolina wrens.[28]
Both males and females utilize calls in alarm situations, especially in territorial disputes and encounters with predators. Males alone produce the cheer call, which can sound indistinct. In southern regions of their range, the sound males use in alarm disputes is a ringing pink or p'dink sound. Females are the only ones that can perform the paired dit-dit or chatter sounds. The former can be used in territorial disputes with predators, and with at least northern populations the songs are used in alternation with the males cheer chant. The chatter is used exclusively with territorial encounters with male song, and the song can either follow or overlap her mate's song.[21][29]
Feeding[edit]
Carolina wrens spend the majority of their time on or near the ground searching for food, or in tangles of vegetation and vines. They also probe bark crevices on lower tree levels, or pick up leaf-litter in order to search for prey. Their diet consists of invertebrates, such as beetles, true bugs, grasshoppers, katydids, spiders, ants, bees, and wasps. Small lizards and tree frogs also make up the carnivorous portion of their diet. Vegetable matter makes up a small percentage of their diets, such as fruit pulp and various seeds. In the northern portion of their range, they frequent bird feeders.[3][20]
Movement[edit]
Carolina wrens are wary, and are more often heard than seen. When on the ground, they move in jerky hops pillaging through various objects, whether man-made or natural.[20] While moving abruptly, they pause momentarily for chattering or singing.[14] When stationary, they move in twitched motions, jerking their breast around.[20] They also sun- or sand-bathe.[30] The wrens also displays a skittish behavior when encountered by humans, as they can be seen thrusting off into cover slowly if approaching is detected. However, they occasionally seek out humans that are near, so long as there is no movement from them.[14] Other movements involve being capable of crawling like a creeper and hanging upside-down like a nuthatch.[20]
Flights are generally of short duration, rapid, low-leveled, and wavelike. The wings during flight are flapped rapidly, and are frequently used during foraging. They are also capable of flying vertically from the base of a tree to the top in a single wing assisted bound.[3][20]
Breeding[edit]
Carolina wren nesting in a duck nestbox.
Carolina wrens are both genetically and socially monogamous and will usually mate for life. Mate changing is rare,[13] and there has been one possible observation of polygamy.[3] During the winter season, males are more responsible for guarding the territory. Females vary in succeeding to maintain winter territories without a mate.[3] It has been suggested that the possibility of desertion and decline in care-taking from males along with the need for security in resources year-round prevent extra pair copulations from females, as the mortality rate for Carolina wrens peaks during the winter.[31] Along with thermoregulatory benefits, roosting is thought to reinforce pair-bonding and prevent divorce between mates.[32]
The nests are arch-shaped structures with a side entrance and built of dried plants or strips of bark, as well as horsehair, string, wool and snake sloughs. Males obtain nesting materials while the females remains at the site to construct the nest. Nests are located in fragmented or complete cavities in trees, or in man-made structures such as bird-boxes, buildings, tin cans, mailboxes or unorthodox places such as pockets of hanging jackets in sheds or in a tractor in everyday use.[3][14] Nests are from 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) from the ground and are rarely higher. They occasionally can be built in sloping locations or at ground level.[3]
Egg laying dates and clutch size vary by region; in Texas the time period is from late February to late August, in Iowa it ranges from late April to June.[12][19] The clutch size is generally 3 to 6 eggs, but can reach as high as seven in Texas.[3][12] The eggs are creamy white with brown or reddish-brown spots, and are more heavily marked at the broad end.[3] The eggs are incubated by the female for 12–16 days. After the young hatch, they are fed exclusively on invertebrates and they fledge in 12–14 days. As many as three broods may be raised by a pair in a single breeding season.[3] In one study, three of the 70 fledglings remained or defended territory adjacent to the natal area.[15]
Male and females are involved in the process of provisioning at similar rates throughout most nest stages, with the males providing slightly more in the nestling stages. Both sexes increase their provision rates as the nestlings grow in age.[33]
Predation and threats[edit]
Brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds is common, with up to 25% of Carolina wren nests being affected in certain regions such as Oklahoma and Alabama.[3][15] Cowbird parasitism peaks in April at 41%, and is as low as 8% and 0% in July and August, respectively. Female cowbirds sometimes eject Carolina wren eggs before laying their own, and even if host eggs are retained, the size of cowbird eggs negatively affect the hatching success of wren eggs. As a result, cowbirds may have a significant impact on the reproductive success of wrens.[3][15] The feeding rate for cowbird nestlings is higher than wren feeding rates, and some have been raised to independence.[15] This also can be detrimental to the survival of wren nestlings.[15] A rare instance of brood-parasitism by a house finch has been recorded.[15][34] The rate of brood parasitism is thought to be lower in more natural and concealed nesting locations.[15] Body parasites such as the larvae of blowflies feed on nestlings and the blood loss weakens nestlings.[15] Fellow species of wren such as Bewick's wren and the winter wren compete for nesting locations and food, respectively.[15]
In Virginia, some Carolina wrens populations show high levels of mercury in their blood and this is acquired from feeding all-year-round on spiders.[35][note 2] Spiders being at a higher trophic levels contain a higher concentrations of mercury (through biomagnification) than herbivorous invertebrates. As these wrens are year-round residents, they are at a higher risk than other species to acquire mercury in its blood. Nest abandonment and failure to raise young were more common with higher mercury content.[35] Exposure, and prolonged periods of cold, ice, and snow is thought to affect the wren nestling and adult populations, respectively.[15] Wrens that outlast those winters reside in sheltered areas during the season.[14]
Among the top predators of adult Carolina wrens are domestic cats, and snakes such as the timber rattlesnake.[36][37] Raccoons and black rat snakes also feed on wren eggs and nestlings.[15]
In culture[edit]
South Carolina state quarter
In 1930, the South Carolina Federated Women's club adopted the Carolina wren as the unofficial state bird over the eastern mourning dove and pushed for its official state adoption until 1939, when the South Carolina Legislature named the northern mockingbird as the state bird. In 1948, the legislature repealed their previous decision, and the wren became the official state bird.[38]
In 2000, the Carolina wren was featured on the back of the South Carolina edition of the 50 State Quarters.[39]
Notes[edit]
Jump up ^ Johann Friedrich Gmelin wrongly associated the Carolina wren with the European wrens under the name Motacilla troglodytes (originally coined by Carl Linnaeus in Systema Naturae)[5] in 1788.[3][6]
Jump up ^ The North Folk Holston and South Rivers were used in the study and were both contaminated by industrial activity.
References[edit]
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^ Jump up to: a b David, Normand; Dubois, Alain (2011). "The original spellings of Thryothorus Vieillot, 1816 (Vertebrata, Aves): a correction" (PDF). Zootaxa. 2918: 68–68.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Brewer, David (2001). Wrens, Dippers, and Thrashers. Yale University Press. pp. 132–4. ISBN 978-0-300-09059-8.
Jump up ^ Mayr, E.; Greenway, J.C. Jr., eds. (1960). Check-list of birds of the World. Volume IX. Cambridge, Mass.: Museum of Comparative Zoology. pp. 409–410.
Jump up ^ Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata (in Latin). Holmiae: Laurentius Salvius. p. 188.
Jump up ^ Harding, J. (1824). Journal of the Academy of the Sciences of Philadelphia: Volume IV, Part I. Philadelphia: Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia. pp. 28–29.
Jump up ^ Oberholser, Harry C. (1902). "A synopsis of the genus commonly called Anorthura". Auk. 19 (2): 175–181. doi:10.2307/4069309. JSTOR 4069309.
Jump up ^ Sandrock, James (2014). The Scientific Nomenclature of Birds in the Upper Midwest. University of Iowa Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-1609382254.
Jump up ^ Coues, Elliot (1882). Coues check list of North American Birds (2nd ed.). Boston: Estes and Lauriat. p. 31.
^ Jump up to: a b "Carolina or White-browed Wren (Thryothorus [ludovicianus or albinucha])". AviBase. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
Jump up ^ Mann, Nigel I.; Barker, F. Keith; Graves, Jeff A.; Dingess-Mann, Kimberly A.; Slater, Peter J.B. (2006). "Molecular data delineate four genera of "Thryothorus" wrens" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 40 (3): 750–9. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.04.014. PMID 16750640.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Thryothorus ludovicianus". Texas A&M AgriLifeExtension. Texas A&M University. 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
^ Jump up to: a b c Haggerty, Thomas M. (2006). "Sexual size dimorphism and assortative mating in Carolina Wrens" (PDF). Journey of Field Ornithology. 77 (3): 259–65. doi:10.1111/j.1557-9263.2006.00051.x.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Bent, Arthur C. (1948). "Life Histories of North American Nuthatches, Wrens, Thrashers, and their Allies: Order Passeriformes". Bulletin of the United States National Museum (195): 205–16. doi:10.5479/si.03629236.195.1.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "The Birds of North America Online: Carolina Wren".
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Jump up ^ Brattstrom, Bayard H.; Howell, Thomas R. (1956). "The Birds of the Revilla Gigedo Islands, Mexico" (PDF). Condor. 58 (2): 107–120. doi:10.2307/1364977.
^ Jump up to: a b Dunn, John Lloyd; Alderfer, Jonathan K. (2004). National Geographic Illustrated Birds of North America. National Geographic Books. p. 342. ISBN 978-1426205255.
^ Jump up to: a b Jackson, Laura Press (1996). The Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas. University of Iowa Press. pp. 266–7. ISBN 978-1426205255.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l Dunne, Pete (2006). Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion: A Comprehensive Resource for Identifying North American Birds. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 479. ISBN 978-0-300-09059-8.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Nealen, Paul M.; Perkel, David J. (2000). "Sexual Dimorphism in the Song System of the Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)". The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 418 (4): 346–360. doi:10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(20000313)418:3<346::aid-cne8>3.3.co;2-b. PMID 10701831.
Jump up ^ Elliott, Lang (1999). Music of the Birds: A Celebration of Bird Song. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 30. ISBN 978-0618006977.
^ Jump up to: a b Morton, Eugene S. (2005). "The Effects of Distance and Isolation on Song-type Sharing in the Carolina Wren" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin. 99 (4): 601–10.
Jump up ^ Naguib, Marc (1995). "Ranging by Song in Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus): Effects of Environmental Acoustics and Strength of Song Degradation" (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 133 (7): 541–559. doi:10.1163/156853996x00206.
Jump up ^ Richards, Douglas G. (1981). "Estimation of the Distance of Singing Conspecifics by the Carolina Wren" (PDF). The Auk. 98: 127–33. JSTOR 4085615.
Jump up ^ Hyman, Jeremy (2005). "Seasonal Variation in Response to Neighbors and Strangers by a Territorial Songbird" (PDF). Ethology. 111 (10): 951–61. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2005.01104.x.
Jump up ^ D'Orazio, Kelly; Neudorf, Diane L. H. (2008). "Nest Defense by Carolina Wrens". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 120 (3): 467–72. doi:10.2307/20456180. JSTOR 20456180.
Jump up ^ Hyman, Jeremy (2003). "Countersinging as a signal of aggression in a territorial songbird" (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 65 (6): 1179–85. doi:10.1006/anbe.2003.2175.
Jump up ^ Elliott, Lang (2004). Know Your Bird Sounds: Songs and calls of yard, garden, and city birds. Stackpole Books. p. 29. ISBN 978-0811729635.
Jump up ^ Hauser, Doris C. (1957). "Some Obversations of Sun-bathing in Birds" (PDF). The Wilson Bulletin. 69 (1): 259–65.
Jump up ^ Haggerty, Thomas M.; Morton, Eugene M.; Fleischer, Robert C. (2001). "Genetic Monogamy in Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus)" (PDF). The Auk. 118 (1): 215–19. doi:10.1642/0004-8038. JSTOR 4089770.
Jump up ^ Labinsky, Ronald F.; Arnett Jr., John E. (2006). "Pair Roosting of Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus)". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 118 (4): 566–569. doi:10.1676/05-109.1. JSTOR 20455927.
Jump up ^ Neudorf, Diane L. H.; Broddick, Mallory J.; Cureton II; James C. (2013). "Parental Provisioning by Carolina Wrens". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 125 (1): 179–184. doi:10.1676/12-009.1.
Jump up ^ Wood, Douglas R.; William A. Carter (2006). "Carolina Wren Nest Successfully Parasitized by House Finch". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 118 (3): 413–415. doi:10.1676/05-102.1.
^ Jump up to: a b Jackson, Alison K.; Evers, David C.; Etterson, Matthew A.; Condon, Anne M.; Folsom, Sarah B.; Detweiler, Jennifer; Schmerfeld, John; Cristol, Daniel A. (2011). "Mercury Exposure Affects the Reproductive Success of a Free-Living Terrestrial Songbird, The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)". The Auk. 128 (4): 759–769. doi:10.1525/auk.2011.11106.
Jump up ^ Mitchell, Joseph C.; Beck, Ruth A. (1992). "Free-Ranging Domestic Cat Predation on Native Vertebrates in Rural and Native Virginia" (PDF). Virginia Journal of Science. 43 (1B): 197–208.
Jump up ^ Parmley, Dennis; Parmley, Amanda M. (2001). "Food Habits of the Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus) in Central Georgia" (PDF). Georgia Journal of Science. 59 (4): 172–80. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-14.
Jump up ^ "South Carolina State Bird – Thryrothorus ludovicianus". NetState. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
Jump up ^ "The Official South Carolina State Quarter". TheUS50. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to the Carolina wren.
Wikispecies has information related to Thryothorus ludovicianus
Identification tips – USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
Species account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
About – Bird Houses 101
Stamps – BirdLife International
"Carolina wren media". Internet Bird Collection.
Carolina wren photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
Sound – Florida Museum of Natural History

Taxon identifiers
Wikidata: Q1585636
Wikispecies: Thryothorus ludovicianus
ABA: carwre
ADW: Thryothorus_ludovicianus
BirdLife: 103887192
eBird: carwre
EoL: 1050671
GBIF: 2493801
IBC: carolina-wren-thryothorus-ludovicianus
iNaturalist: 7513
IRMNG: 11283716
ITIS: 178581
IUCN: 103887192
NCBI: 74200
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carolina_wren&oldid=845391120"
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Infinity symbol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The ∞ symbol in several typefaces
The infinity symbol ∞ (sometimes called the lemniscate) is a mathematical symbol representing the concept of infinity.
Contents
1 History
2 Usage
3 Modern symbolism
4 Graphic design
5 Encoding
6 See also
7 References
History[edit]
John Wallis introduced the infinity symbol to mathematical literature.
The shape of a sideways figure eight has a long pedigree; for instance, it appears in the cross of Saint Boniface, wrapped around the bars of a Latin cross.[1] However, John Wallis is credited with introducing the infinity symbol with its mathematical meaning in 1655, in his De sectionibus conicis.[1][2][3][4] Wallis did not explain his choice of this symbol, but it has been conjectured to be a variant form of a Roman numeral for 1,000 (originally CIƆ, also CƆ), which was sometimes used to mean "many", or of the Greek letter ω (omega), the last letter in the Greek alphabet.[5]
Symbol used by Euler to denote infinity
Leonhard Euler used an open variant of the symbol[6] in order to denote "absolutus infinitus". Euler freely performed various operations on infinity, such as taking its logarithm. This symbol is not used anymore, and is not encoded as a separate character in Unicode.
Usage[edit]
In mathematics, the infinity symbol is used more often to represent a potential infinity,[1] rather than to represent an actually infinite quantity such as the ordinal numbers and cardinal numbers (which use other notations). For instance, in the mathematical notation for summations and limits such as
∑ n = 0 ∞ 1 2 n = lim x → ∞ 2 x − 1 2 x − 1 = 2 , {\displaystyle \sum _{n=0}^{\infty }{\frac {1}{2^{n}}}=\lim _{x\to \infty }{\frac {2^{x}-1}{2^{x-1}}}=2,}
the infinity sign is conventionally interpreted as meaning that the variable grows arbitrarily large (towards infinity) rather than actually taking an infinite value.
The infinity symbol may also be used to represent a point at infinity, especially when there is only one such point under consideration. This usage includes, for instance, the infinite point of a projective line,[7] and the point added to a topological space T {\displaystyle T} to form its one-point compactification T ∞ {\displaystyle T_{\infty }} .[8]
In areas other than mathematics, the infinity symbol may take on other related meanings; for instance, it has been used in bookbinding to indicate that a book is printed on acid-free paper and will therefore be long-lasting.[9]
Modern symbolism[edit]
The infinity symbol appears on several cards of the Rider–Waite tarot deck
In modern mysticism, the infinity symbol has become identified with a variation of the ouroboros, an ancient image of a snake eating its own tail that has also come to symbolize the infinite, and the ouroboros is sometimes drawn in figure-eight form to reflect this identification, rather than in its more traditional circular form.[10]
In the works of Vladimir Nabokov, including The Gift and Pale Fire, the figure-eight shape is used symbolically to refer to the Möbius strip and the infinite, for instance in these books' descriptions of the shapes of bicycle tire tracks and of the outlines of half-remembered people. The poem after which Pale Fire is entitled explicitly refers to "the miracle of the lemniscate".[11]
Graphic design[edit]
The well known shape and meaning of the infinity symbol have made it a common typographic element of graphic design. For instance, the Métis flag, used by the Canadian Métis people in the early 19th century, is based around this symbol.[12] In modern commerce, corporate logos featuring this symbol have been used by, among others, Room for PlayStation Portable, Microsoft Visual Studio, Fujitsu, and CoorsTek.
Encoding[edit]
The symbol is encoded in Unicode at U+221E ∞ INFINITY and in LaTeX as \infty: ∞ {\displaystyle \infty } .
The Unicode set of symbols also includes several variant forms of the infinity symbol, that are less frequently available in fonts: U+29DC ⧜ INCOMPLETE INFINITY (HTML ⧜ · ISOtech entity ⧜), U+29DD ⧝ TIE OVER INFINITY (HTML ⧝) and U+29DE ⧞ INFINITY NEGATED WITH VERTICAL BAR (HTML ⧞) in block Miscellaneous Mathematical Symbols-B.[13] The acid-free paper symbol mentioned above is encoded separately as U+267E ♾ PERMANENT PAPER SIGN (HTML ♾).
See also[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Infinity.
History of mathematical notation
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b c Barrow, John D. (2008), "Infinity: Where God Divides by Zero", Cosmic Imagery: Key Images in the History of Science, W. W. Norton & Company, pp. 339–340, ISBN 9780393061772
Jump up ^ De sectionibus conicis nova methodo expositis tractatus - John Wallis - Google Boeken. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2013-12-01. See e.g. Prop. 1, p. 4.
Jump up ^ Scott, Joseph Frederick (1981), The mathematical work of John Wallis, D.D., F.R.S., (1616-1703) (2 ed.), American Mathematical Society, p. 24, ISBN 0-8284-0314-7
Jump up ^ Martin-Löf, Per (1990), "Mathematics of infinity", COLOG-88 (Tallinn, 1988), Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 417, Berlin: Springer, pp. 146–197, doi:10.1007/3-540-52335-9_54, MR 1064143
Jump up ^ Clegg, Brian (2003), A brief history of infinity: the quest to think the unthinkable, Robinson, ISBN 9781841196503
Jump up ^ See for instance Cor. 1 p. 174 in: Leonhard Euler. Variae observationes circa series infinitas. Commentarii academiae scientiarum Petropolitanae 9, 1744, pp. 160-188. [1]
Jump up ^ Perrin, Daniel (2007), Algebraic Geometry: An Introduction, Springer, p. 28, ISBN 9781848000568
Jump up ^ Aliprantis, Charalambos D.; Border, Kim C. (2006), Infinite Dimensional Analysis: A Hitchhiker's Guide (3rd ed.), Springer, pp. 56–57, ISBN 9783540295877
Jump up ^ Zboray, Ronald J.; Zboray, Mary Saracino (2000), A handbook for the study of book history in the United States, Center for the Book, Library of Congress, p. 49, ISBN 9780844410159
Jump up ^ O'Flaherty, Wendy Doniger (1986), Dreams, Illusion, and Other Realities, University of Chicago Press, p. 243, ISBN 9780226618555 . The book also features this image on its cover.
Jump up ^ Toker, Leona (1989), Nabokov: The Mystery of Literary Structures, Cornell University Press, p. 159, ISBN 9780801422119
Jump up ^ Healy, Donald T.; Orenski, Peter J. (2003), Native American Flags, University of Oklahoma Press, p. 284, ISBN 9780806135564
Jump up ^ "Unicode chart (pdf)" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-12-01.
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Infinity (∞)
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Formalizations of infinity
Cardinal numbers
Hyperreal numbers
Infinity + 1
Ordinal numbers
Surreal numbers
Transfinite numbers
Infinitesimal
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Georg Cantor
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
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text:
I Can Only Imagine (MercyMe song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"I Can Only Imagine"
Single cover
Single by MercyMe
from the album The Worship Project and Almost There
A-side
"Word of God Speak"
Released
2001
Format
CD
digital download
Recorded
1999 and 2001 in the United States
Ivy Park
The Indigo Room
Paradise Sound
IBC Studios
Genre
Christian alternative rock
pop rock
contemporary Christian
Length
4:08
Label
INO
Curb
Songwriter(s)
Bart Millard
Producer(s)
Pete Kipley
MercyMe singles chronology
"Bless Me Indeed (Jabez's Song)"
(2001) "I Can Only Imagine"
(2001) "Spoken For"
(2002)
"I Can Only Imagine" (sometimes shortened to "Imagine") is a single recorded by Christian rock band MercyMe. Written and composed by lead vocalist Bart Millard, the song, based around a main piano track, was inspired by the death of Millard's father and considers what it would be like in Heaven and to be standing before God. The song was first issued as a track on MercyMe's 1999 album The Worship Project, which was released on an independent record label. The song was re-recorded and included on their 2001 major-label debut album Almost There as the fifth song on the album.
"I Can Only Imagine" was released in 2001 as the album's lead single. It gained significant airplay on Christian radio formats before crossing over to mainstream radio formats such as adult contemporary and Top 40 in late 2003 and into 2004; to aid in promotion to these markets, a double A-side physical single (combined with "Word of God Speak") was released in 2003. It charted on several formats, including the Billboard Adult Contemporary (where it peaked at No. 5) and the Hot 100 (where it peaked at No. 71). In 2002, "I Can Only Imagine" earned the Dove Awards for 'Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year' and 'Song of the Year'; Millard earned the Dove Award 'Songwriter of the Year' at the same ceremony. With 2.5 million copies sold, it is the best-selling Christian single of all time, having been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. As of 2018, it is the only Christian song to reach that milestone.
Contents
1 Background
2 Composition
3 Release and promotion
4 Impact
5 Music video
6 Reception
6.1 Critical response
6.2 Chart performance
6.3 Awards and accolades
7 Other versions
8 Track listing
9 Release history
10 Charts and certifications
11 Film adaptation
12 References
13 External links
Background[edit]
"I Can Only Imagine" was the debut single for United States contemporary Christian and Christian rock band MercyMe. Bart Millard, the band's vocalist, lost his father, Arthur Wesley Millard Jr.[1], in 1991. Millard was 18 at the time.[2][3] Millard began writing the words "I can only imagine" on items when he was thinking about his father.[4] During the recording of the band's 1999 independent album The Worship Project, MercyMe needed one more song to fill out the album.[5] Millard, alone on a bus in the middle of the night, finally wrote the lyrics to the song by drawing on his thoughts and personal faith about what one would experience standing before God in Heaven. Millard attests that "['I Can Only Imagine'] is one of the only songs I have ever written where there wasn't any mistakes, it was just written the way it is and left at that",[5] and estimated that it took him only ten minutes to write the lyrics.[4]
In writing the music for the song, however, the band faced more difficulty; Millard noted that "at first it was a fast song... it was all these random ideas".[5] Keyboardist Jim Bryson noted that, "we were literally tearing down the stuff... [Millard] and I were talking about arranging it differently and doing a slower version, so we just tried out a piano intro... it was literally the first thing I played. It wasn't anything to do with me, I think it was just a God thing. [Millard] said 'here it is, this is what's going to happen', and we laid the song down in about five minutes."[5] At that time, the other MercyMe members were Robby Shaffer on drums and percussion, Nathan Cochran on bass guitar and Michael Scheuchzer on guitar. This line-up recorded the first version of the song for The Worship Project.[3][6] In 2006, it was included in the 'Platinum Edition' of Almost There.[7]
Composition[edit]
I Can Only Imagine
A sample of "I Can Only Imagine". MercyMe's debut single, "I Can Only Imagine" is "a passionate piano-driven ballad. The song considers what it would be like to be in the presence of God. Delivered with conviction, the song is emotionally compelling".[8]
Problems playing this file? See media help.
"I Can Only Imagine" is a ballad with a length of four minutes and eight seconds.[8] The song is set in the key of E major and has a moderately slow tempo of 80 beats per minute with a vocal range from B3–G♯5.[9] The song opens up with only a piano, and builds up to include guitar and drums.[10] Millard is credited with both the lyrics and music to the song.[11] The song was produced by Pete Kipley, who had worked with MercyMe previously[2] as well as with artists including Rebecca St. James, Phil Wickham and Lincoln Brewster.[12]
The lyrics to the song are based around the narrator wondering what it will be like in Heaven and to be standing before God.[8] Regarding this theme, Millard explained to Fox News that "I was always told that if he could choose, he would rather be in Heaven than here with me. As a Christian I believed that, but as an 18-year-old it was a little hard to swallow. So the questions in the song came from me asking God what was so great about Him that my dad would rather be there."[2]
Release and promotion[edit]
MercyMe's lead singer-songwriter, Bart Millard (left) and drummer, Robby Shaffer, performing in February 2008.
"I Can Only Imagine" was re-recorded for their major-label debut record Almost There and released as its lead single in 2001.[13] The album was recorded in various locations: Ivy Park, The Indigo Room, Paradise Sound and IBC Studios.[11] The single gained radio airplay on some contemporary Christian formats; by November, it peaked at number-one on the Radio & Records Christian AC format and in the top twenty of the Radio & Records Christian CHR chart.[14][15]
In 2003, a Dallas mainstream radio station, 100.3 Wild-FM, first played the song on its morning show, The Fitz Radio Program.[3][16][17] They had responded to a caller's repeated requests and the urgings of the program's producer, Todd Sheppard.[2][4] The song soon became the most requested and most played song on the station.[17][18] After hearing the song played on the station, Millard called-in and spoke with the crew; MercyMe then came in and played the song live.[17]
As other stations around the country caught on, MercyMe's label, INO Records, partnered with Curb Records.[17][19][20] They marketed the single to wider audiences, such as Top 40 radio.[19][20][21] In September, INO and Curb also released a double A-side physical single, "I Can Only Imagine/Word of God Speak".[13] The latter track was co-written by Millard with the band's producer, Kipley.[22] Eventually, the song cracked into secular charts, including the Billboard Hot 100[23] and the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts.[24]
Impact[edit]
MercyMe did not expect "I Can Only Imagine" to gain mainstream success, in part due to its explicit references to Jesus and Heaven.[16][17] Millard noted that the band joked around about "the top five songs never to cross over,[16] and they had included "I Can Only Imagine" on that list.[16][17] Millard also believed some radio stations were playing the song to prove it could not succeed on mainstream radio.[17] The song had a significant effect on the band's musical image; in an interview, Millard commented that "We were a rock band when we started 11 years ago. But we kind of became the 'adult contemporary poster child' when 'I Can Only Imagine' took off".[25]
Music video[edit]
Millard holding his father's photograph in the music video.
A music video was released for "I Can Only Imagine".[26][27] Millard recalled the video's inspiration: "I just kept seeing all these people holding picture frames [at MercyMe concerts] that are empty because we all carry these people with us in some way. I've had so many people after a show pull out a picture of someone they've lost. These people embrace these photos and I just thought how can we tap into that".[27] The video features everyday people as well as several music artists including Michael Tait, Tammy Trent, Bob Herdman, and Jesse Katina, each holding an empty picture frame to signify their loss of a loved one; as the video progresses, they are holding pictures of their loved ones including Millard with his father's photograph.[27]
The video opens with a shot of an empty room and a chair, shifting to show a young boy climbing up a flight of stairs. The camera then shifts to the band before returning to the boy, now in an attic which is filled with many empty picture frames. The video alternates between shots of the boy and the band before shifting to individual shots of other people, each holding an empty picture frame. As the other instruments join in, the camera comes back to the band, focusing on them before returning to shots of the people, whose picture frames now contain pictures of deceased relatives. At the end of the video, the camera returns to the boy, now running down a street with an empty frame, climaxing with him lying down in a field with the empty frame.[26][27]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
Critical reception for "I Can Only Imagine" was positive. Steve Losey of AllMusic commented that "[the song] is a passionate piano-driven ballad. The song considers what it would be like to be in the presence of God. Delivered with conviction, the song is emotionally compelling".[8] Jesus Freak Hideout's reviewer Kevin Chamberlin felt "The lyrics for the song are amazing. If you haven't listened to the lyrics, because you're afraid of hearing pop music, get over it and listen to it."[28] Kevin McNeese of NewReleaseTuesday commented that "The definite highlight on [Almost There] is the worship/ballad 'I Can Only Imagine'... The song starts out with just piano that instantly invokes chills and builds dynamically into a powerful display of drums and guitar. But what makes the song are the lyrics, penned by Bart Millard himself. The song speaks about that day that we all dream about when we finally meet Jesus... It's a song that can't be listened to with eyes open".[10]
Chart performance[edit]
"I Can Only Imagine" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart week of 11 October 2003 at No. 76.[23] The song peaked at No. 71 for two weeks and spent 16 non-consecutive weeks on the Hot 100.[14][23] On the Adult Contemporary chart, "I Can Only Imagine" debuted at No. 29 for the chart week of 23 May 2003, with an eventual peak of No. 5 for the chart week of 8 September 2003; in all, "I Can Only Imagine" spent 30 weeks on the chart.[14][24]
On the Adult Top 40 chart, "I Can Only Imagine" debuted at No. 39 for the chart week of 9 August 2003 and reached a peak position of No. 27, holding that spot for three consecutive weeks; in all, the song spent 26 weeks on the chart.[14][29] On the Mainstream Top 40 chart, the song debuted at No. 37 for the chart week of 12 July 2003, reaching an eventual peak of No. 33.[14][30] On the Country Songs chart, the song debuted at No. 58 for the chart week of 27 December 2003, reaching an eventual peak of No. 52, which it held for two weeks.[31] According to Mike Curb on the Curb Records website, "I Can Only Imagine" also peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart for 10 weeks, No. 1 on the Radio & Records Christian AC chart for two weeks,[14][15] and No. 15 on the Christian CHR chart.[14]
In April 2010, "I Can Only Imagine" was certified platinum by the RIAA, signifying sales of over 1,000,000 digital downloads.[32] It is the first single by any artist in the Christian music genre to go platinum.[33] The song was certified 2x platinum in 2014.[32] It was certified 3x platinum in 2018.[34] As of June 2018, it has sold 3 million copies, making it the best-selling Christian single of all time.[35][36]
Awards and accolades[edit]
"I Can Only Imagine" earned two GMA Dove Awards in 2002; 'Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year' and 'Song of the Year'.[37][38] Millard also won 'Songwriter of the Year' at the same ceremony.[37][38] In November 2009, the song was played on board Space Shuttle Atlantis as a wake-up call for Barry E. Wilmore during STS-129.[39]
Other versions[edit]
The original version of "I Can Only Imagine" was a track on MercyMe's 1999 independent release The Worship Project.[6] In August 2006, both an acoustic and live form (as well as the original 1999 version) were included in the 'Platinum edition' of Almost There.[7] MercyMe recorded a version of the song for their iTunes Originals album.[40][41] In 2009, two further variants were included on their compilation album 10; a 'symphony version' featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, and a live version.[42]
"I Can Only Imagine" has also been covered by several artists.[43] In 2002 Amy Grant released a reworked version of the song (titled "Imagine" and paired with "Sing the Wondrous Love of Jesus") on her album, Legacy... Hymns and Faith.[44] In 2003, Jeff Carson and Kathryn Scott each issued variants of the song;[44][45] Carson's version peaked at No. 50 on the Country Songs chart.[46] In 2005 Wynonna Judd issued her form of the song;[44] while in 2007 Emerson Drive provided theirs.[47] The song was covered again in 2010 by Marie Osmond and in 2013 by gospel artist Tamela Mann.
The song was performed live by Garwin Dobbins, a man struggling with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, a crippling disease referred to as Stone Man's syndrome, in which the body's repair mechanism replaces muscle with bone, causing many joints to become permanently frozen in place.[48] Dobbins, who died in 2004, sang the song on a broadcast of Austin Awakening, accompanied by pastor Randy Phillips of Phillips, Craig and Dean. Footage of the performance was featured in the finale of the Trevor Glass documentary "Suffer the Children."[49] There is also a German version "Ich kann nur davon träumen".
Track listing[edit]
CD release[13][50][51][52]
"I Can Only Imagine" – 4:08 (Bart Millard)[9][43]
"Word of God Speak" – 3:07 (Peter Kipley, Millard)[22][53]
Release history[edit]
Date
Territory
Label
Format
2001[13] United States INO Airplay
23 September 2003[13]
INO
Curb
CD
4 January 2005[32]
INO
Epic
Digital
Charts and certifications[edit]
Weekly charts
Chart (2001–2002)
Peak
Position
Radio and Records Christian AC[14][15] 1
Radio and Records Christian CHR[14] 15
Chart (2003–2004)
Peak
Position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[54] 5
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[55] 27
US Billboard Hot 100[56] 71
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[57] 33
Chart (2012)
Peak
Position
France (SNEP)[58] 65
Chart (2017)
Peak
Position
US Christian Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[59] 1
Chart (2018)
Peak
Position
US Christian Songs (Billboard)[60] 1
US Digital Songs (Billboard)[61] 10
Year-end charts
Chart (2003)
Position
Billboard Adult Contemporary[62][63] 20
Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales[64][65] 24
Chart (2010)
Position
Billboard Christian/Gospel Digital Songs[66] 9
Chart (2011)
Position
Billboard Christian/Gospel Digital Songs[67] 7
Certifications
Country
Certifications
(sales thresholds)
United States 3x Platinum[32]
Film adaptation[edit]
Main article: I Can Only Imagine (film)
The story behind the song was made into a feature film starring J. Michael Finley and Dennis Quaid. The film was released on March 16, 2018.
References[edit]
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^ Jump up to: a b "The Worship Project – MercyMe". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
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^ Jump up to: a b c d Farris, Christa (September 2003). ""I Can Only Imagine" Is Still The Little Song That Could" (PDF). CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing (Salem Communications). 26 (3): 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
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^ Jump up to: a b Cusic, Don (2010). "Curb, Mike". In Cusic, Don. Encyclopedia of contemporary Christian music: pop, rock, and worship. ABC-CLIO. pp. 97–98. ISBN 978-0-313-34425-1. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b Price, Deborah Evans (25 October 2003). "A Yearning for More Meaning". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media: 3, 76. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
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^ Jump up to: a b "ACE Title Search "Word of God Speak"". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Archived from the original on 1 November 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
^ Jump up to: a b c "MercyMe Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b "MercyMe Album & Song Chart History – Adult Contemporary Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
Jump up ^ Thompson, John J. (9 December 2005). "Well Mercy Me, Children!". Today'sChristianMusic. CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing (Salem Communications). Archived from the original on 1 November 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b ""I Can Only Imagine" – MercyMe (VEVO)". Vevo (Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Abu Dhabi Media Company, E1 Entertainment). Retrieved 15 September 2011. Note: video may not be available in your region, e.g. Australia.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Nentwig, Wendy Lee (23 September 2003). "Song Story: "I Can Only Imagine"". Crosswalk.com (Salem Web Communications (Salem Communications)). Archived from the original on 1 November 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
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External links[edit]
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Almost There
"Bless Me Indeed (Jabez's Song)"
"I Can Only Imagine"
Spoken For
"Spoken For"
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"The Change Inside Of Me"
Undone
"Here with Me"
"Homesick"
"In the Blink of an Eye"
Coming Up to Breathe
"So Long Self"
"Hold Fast"
"Bring the Rain"
All That Is Within Me
"God with Us"
"You Reign"
"Finally Home"
The Generous Mr. Lovewell
"All of Creation"
"Beautiful"
"Move"
The Hurt & The Healer
"The Hurt & The Healer"
Welcome to the New
"Shake"
Lifer
"Even If"
Other charted songs
"O Holy Night"
"Silent Night"
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
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Studio albums
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Real Life
Singles
"Not on Your Love"
"The Car"
"Holdin' Onto Somethin'"
"Butterfly Kisses"
"Real Life (I Never Was the Same Again)"
"I Can Only Imagine"
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