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Although usually monogamous, House Wren relationships can get complicated. A male may attract several females to nest in his territory, but may also sneak into other males' territories to mate with the females nesting there. Chicks in a clutch rarely all have the same genetic father. The loud, bubbly song of the House Wren seems larger than the singer itself! The Chippewa call it O-du-na'-mis-sug-ud-da-we'-shi, meaning "big noise for its size." Males constantly vocalize while on territory; females also sing, but not as consistently. This wren also has a characteristic harsh, scolding call.
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Canyon Wren Range Map
However, wrens that winter in higher latitudes and higher elevations may start laying eggs later. Cactus Wrens can be identified by their large size (they are the largest wren in the United States) as well as the black spots on the breast and the white eyebrow. Males and females look alike, and juveniles are slightly paler.
Species in This Family
House wrens are not too particular about where they nest, as cavity-dwelling birds, they will make their home anywhere. House wrens have been observed nesting in rotted trees, old woodpecker nests, planter boxes on front porches, and even old shoes! These fiercely territorial songbirds will even kick out residents of a pre-established nest of a larger bird to claim it as their own. Wren breeding season starts in late March and into early April. What’s interesting about Wren’s mating habits is that the female is attracted to more than just the male songbirds’ mating call.
More Birds Like This
Cactus Wrens are perfectly adapted to their dry environment. They get nearly all of their water from food, which consists of insects and cactus fruit. They place their nests deep within a cactus, which protects the nest from predators. They often make multiple “dummy” nests to distract predators and provide themselves with a safe roosting site. Due to these precautions, Cactus Wrens have a high reproductive success, and they can nest up to three times per year. Six or seven speckled-white eggs are laid in a nest of twigs hidden in a tree cavity or birdhouse.
The female house wren incubates the eggs alone, typically for 13 days. In higher latitudes, higher elevations, and colder temperatures, the incubation period last longer. Overall, the incubation period ranges between 12 to 15 days.
The eggs are pale and thickly spotted with tiny reddish-brown to cinnamon-brown dots, denser on the egg’s broader side. Ornithologists suggest that replacing the nest material helps clean the nest from parasites that could be detrimental to the next brood. The first eggs laid begin to hatch by the last week of May. Young wren may still be seen near their parents as late as the last week of August.
How do House Wrens build their nests?
You may be able to attract a mating pair of Bewick’s Wrens to raise their young! The best entrance hole diameter to use for these birds is 1-1/8 inches. Bewick’s Wrens are most often found in dry brushy or scrubby habitats within their range.
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The best way to identify them is to look for their white eyebrow and dark barring on the tail. As for their personality, these wrens are noisy and extremely active. It’s common to see them flicking their long tail sideways as they hop from branch to branch.
Their wings are short and round, which enables them to adeptly maneuver through thickets, shrubs, and other areas with dense vegetation. This includes beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, bugs, crickets, moths, spiders, millipedes, snails, earwigs, and leafhoppers. They also add calcium to their diet by ingesting mollusk shells, such as snail shells.
If unable to raise young, the female will move farther out of the territory for future broods. Wrens will take over the nest of other birds by destroying eggs. If you want other cavity-nesting birds like Bluebirds, Purple Martins, or woodpeckers, you may want to avoid having House Wrens around. While it's fun to watch the House Wrens nesting habits, thought should be given on whether to place birdhouses for them.
Depending on the state of the old nest, the male may only make repairs and replace the nesting material. A study on nesting house wrens found that in areas where natural cavities and nesting boxes were available, house wrens preferred breeding in nesting boxes. Winter Wrens are small, plump brown birds with darker barring on the wings, tail, and belly. They have a paler eyebrow stripe and short tails, which they keep upright.
When extended its wings appear short for the size of the body. The House Wren often keeps its longish tail either cocked above the line of the body or slightly drooped. This chirping noise from the egg may not be very audible to humans, so you probably won’t be able to hear it unless you are very close to the nest. The chirping is, however, heard by the parent birds, who know that the baby is about to hatch when they begin to hear it. Wren eggs are similar in appearance to other bird eggs, but almost always smaller. They are very similar to sparrow eggs, but are even smaller than these and may be more reddish brown in color.
She will only leave the nest to find food as necessary, soon returning to her post of sitting on the eggs to keep them warm and help them develop. House wrens, for example, lay between 5 and 8 eggs per brood, sometimes more, but will most often lay 6 or 7 eggs, according to Audubon. The female wren will lay one egg per day until they have all been laid. Song is a long, bubbly jumble of trills and scolds given by both males and females. Often pushes tail downward while singing, unlike other wrens.
House wren are notorious for divorces and mate switching. Most pairs (73%) attempt a second brood in a single breeding season. When females arrive at the breeding grounds, they visit territories and inspect nests prepared by the males. If the female approves of the nest, she stays and begins to continue building the nest. This action by the female indicates that the pair have been formed. Male wrens arrive first at the breeding grounds to find a suitable nesting site and territory.
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