Bird Feeding Series: House Wrens

Wren: loud and friendly

Of the estimated fifteen or so different species that I will likely cover in this series, I've opted to start with the Wren (pictured left).  From my own perspective, the wren has been the most interactive of the many bird species that I've encountered in my short duration as an amateur bird observer.  By interaction, I mean to say that this species - for whatever reason - has approached me throughout different seasons of the year (including when my feeders are not up and running) coming in unusually close proximity, and almost as if to communicate - looked directly at me and sung up a storm.  Of course, its understood that this is merely an entertaining illusion since birds of the native variety do not engage humans socially. 

Most the bird species that I encounter are extremely fearful of humans, and tend to make a bee line for the woods when I show up to fill my feeders.  However, the wren seems to stay within four or five feet to monitor my activity.  And chirps aways at me as I pour the seed. 

In summer, if I hear a bird singing right outside of my window at 5 am, its usually a wren.  Opening the window shade doesn't seem to scare him off or deter him, he just keeps on whirling and chirping to its heart's content.  Sadly, their curiosity can also be their undoing.  Last year, a wren must have followed me into the garage one evening, as I found one expired the following morning inside the garage near the house entry door.  Obviously, this was a sad moment, but its given me pause to watch out for birds seeking refuge in my garage during cold weather.  Two days ago, and in the evening hours, I opened the garage doors to take out the trash, and another wren must have snuck in during that three minute period.  Luckily I was able to see him sitting up atop of the garage door chassis, and I reopened the door and out he flew.  This has not happened with any other species except the wren.

Wrens Nesting Habits

Wrens build nests just about anywhere convenient; they seem to adapt to a variety of locations which include marshland, wooded areas, backyards, and even fields.  Strangely, their nest are usually built five to ten feet from ground.  However, in my yard, I've had wrens build their next in a woodpile just inside the woodland area that is only 3 feet high.  And they'll let you know if you come to close!

Most websites claim that wrens are extremely territorial and will defend an area up to an acre.  But this must be only for the purpose of nesting, because I often see a number of wrens feeding simultaneously at the feeders, and around the yard.   I do know that they spend plenty of time filling my birdhouses with twigs and sticks in order to create what is known as a dummy nest, so that other bird species do not nest in their territory.  I was particularly dismayed by this when attempting to attract bluebirds to my yard.  Within days of putting up the boxes, I found them filled with twigs.  Emptying them usually results in them being refilled with twigs in a few days.

I also know Wrens are responsible for having destroyed a thriving chickadee nest in my yard last year.  They destroyed the eggs, and once again filled the birdhouse with twigs and sticks.  For this reason alone, there are dozens of sites devoted to ridding your yard of  Wrens, I'd rather not take to destroying any existing nests and simply hope for the best.

Wren eating habits

Wrens spend their summer feeding on spiders, and insects.  During the winter they follow suit with most bird species and consume seeds as their primary diet.  I find that they particularly frequent one of my feeders which contains nuts and dried fruit.  But they also feed on sunflower, and eat at the seeded-suet station. They also appear to be ground feeders, as they spend a lot of time scooping up whatever falls from the multi-seed feeders .

Wrens don't appear to be overly aggressive at the feeders, but they also don't move off when antagonized by other birds trying to squeeze out competitors. 

It's not difficult to attract wrens to your feeding station.  They've been regular visitors to my station over the past four years, and its likely that because they don't migrate south, that its likely that the same birds are likely around my yard year round. 

One last note, I've had some difficulty determining the precise species of wren that I've been encountering.  The books and websites I've consulted seem to have inaccurate titles for a variety of wren species pictured - the Carolina Wren, House Wren, Marsh Wren, in addition to other subspecies - are quite different from description to description shown which has made my ability to correctly identify them more complicated.  The picture above was borrowed, but closely resembles the bird appearing at my stations.  I will be uploading my pictures over the next day or.   Any thoughts about what specific species this may be would be helpful.   Once again, I'm located in Connecticut.