| House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) |
| Cool fact: House
Wrens are known for their aggressive defense of territories and nest sites. Especially
when crowded, they destroy the eggs of competing species in the vicinity of their
territories. Listen to a recording of a House Wren from the Library of Natural Sounds:
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| Many subspecies of
House Wren have in the past been given full species status. But when taken as a whole,
this species has one of the most extensive ranges of any bird in terms of latitude. Some
form of the species occurs from Canada to southernmost South America. The northernmost
form of House Wren breeds across southern Canada and throughout most of the United States,
except in the Southeast. Another form once known as the "Brown-throated Wren"
occurs from southeast Arizona south into Mexico. In September, House Wrens stop singing, retreat into deeper woodlands, and even appear slightly darker and grayer. The transformation is enough that Audubon thought he was seeing a separate species, which he called the "Wood Wren." House Wrens become very shy and retiring on their wintering grounds, favoring the thickets and palmetto scrub of the southern United States. During spring male House Wrens return about nine days ahead of the females to begin establishing territories in the forest edges, open woodlands, swamps, city parks, and suburban areas. They typically return to claim the same territories each year, which they vigorously defend with exuberant singing. The familiar loud song begins with a chatter of rapid notes, followed by cascades of doubled notes and groups of trills. Females sing as well, most often in the first few days after pairing. Songs are repeated with great frequency, as often as three to four times per minute. A wide variety of sites are used for nesting. Nest boxes are readily accepted, and other, more unusual, locations noted include cans in garbage heaps, large abandoned hornet nests, old shoes, boots, hats, or the pockets of a scarecrow. Once an appropriate site is selected, the wrens fill the nest cavity with coarse twigs, sticks, and grass. The nest is lined with feathers, wool, hair, or catkins. The fragmentation of forests following European colonization of North America benefited the House Wren by enabling this bird to expand its range in some areas. It is thought that House Wrens have negatively affected Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) populations through nest destruction and territorial competition. Breeding Bird Surveys show population increases, especially in the High Plains, northern Rocky Mountains, and in the Columbia Plateau of central and eastern Washington. Description: House Wrens are small, chunky birds (approximately 4.75 inches in length) with thin, slightly down-curved bills and short, rounded wings. Their tails are often held tilted up at a steep angle. Their upperparts are warm brown, and they have a slight whitish superciliary stripe over the eye. The wings, tail, and flanks are barred with black. The throat, breast, and belly are whitish. House Wrens from the West are grayer above and paler below than eastern birds. The "Brown-throated Wren" of southeastern Arizona has a buffier throat and a more prominent superciliary stripe. The similar Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) is distinguished by its smaller size, much shorter tail, and more extensive, prominent barring on the flanks and belly. Recording credits: These recordings can be found on the Peterson Guide to Eastern and Central Bird Songs. Copyright© 2000 Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology |
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