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Bird Sounds: House Wren

House Wren Calls

Heidi Stonehill
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Few birds pack as much personality and melody into such a small package as the house wren. This pint-sized powerhouse, measuring a mere 5 inches, is a common sight and sound in backyards across North America. But don’t underestimate this energetic songbird—beyond its charming chirp lies a fascinating story of resilience, resourcefulness, and audacious song.

The house wren may be small and plain, but it makes up for it with a loud bird song! You’ve probably seen this plain brown bird around your garage or backyard. Take a listen!

Here, you can identify the sounds and bird songs of the House Wren. Compliments of The Macaulay Library at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

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The House Wren

  • Unmatched Songbird: Prepare to be serenaded! House wrens hold the title of North America’s most prolific singer, capable of delivering over 2,000 songs per day. Their repertoire includes mimicry of other birds, creating a delightful mash-up of chirps and whistles.
  • The Early Bird Gets the Song: Hear their sweet melodies first thing in the morning! House wrens are among the first birds to start singing at dawn, filling the air with their joyful tunes.
     

Beyond the Backyard Bird Songs

A Champion of Bug Control: These natural pest controllers are a gardener’s delight. House wrens diligently hunt insects like spiders, beetles, and caterpillars, providing free pest control for your garden.

Tiny Architects, Big Nests: Don’t let their size fool you! House wrens are skilled nest builders, creating cozy abodes in unexpected places like mailboxes or even discarded shoes. Their nests are often lined with feathers and soft materials, offering a sanctuary for their young.

Fierce Guardians: Despite their diminutive size, house wrens fiercely defend their territories and nests. They’ll boldly chase away much larger birds, reminding us that size isn’t everything!

How to Attract Wren to Your Backyard

Offer Up a Cozy Home: Provide nest boxes specifically designed for house wrens. Use natural materials like gourds or recycled birdhouses and place them in sheltered locations at least 5 feet above the ground.

Food for Thought: Plant insect-attracting flowers and shrubs like elderberry or viburnum to entice their favorite snacks. Keep bird feeders stocked with sunflower seeds and crushed peanuts.

A Water Retreat: A clean water source, like a birdbath or shallow pond, will be a welcome addition where wrens can bathe and keep themselves hydrated.

More Than Just a Song

The house wren, with its tireless singing, clever nesting, and fierce spirit, is a captivating presence in any backyard. By understanding their habits and providing them with a suitable habitat, we can invite these delightful songsters to share our spaces and celebrate their natural wonders. So, listen closely to their charming chirps, observe their nest-building skills, and appreciate the vital role they play in our ecosystem. You might just find yourself falling in love with the tiny bird with the big voice!

Click here to listen to the sounds of other birds! 

Have you heard a House Wren? Add your comments below. Be sure to let us know where you live or where you’ve heard this bird sound before!

Bird Sounds
About The Author

Heidi Stonehill

Heidi Stonehill is the executive editor for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, where she focuses much of her time on managing content development for the Almanac’s line of calendars. Read More from Heidi Stonehill
 

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Comments

Anna (not verified)

3 weeks ago

I'm in Philadelphia & they come back every year. I buy the bird houses with very small entrance hole to keep them safe from larger birds.

Gayle (not verified)

3 months 1 week ago

We have house wrens and love their singing. One has built her nest in a birdhouse on the table on our deck. She had two broods last summer. Sure hope she comes back again.
Arlington, Texas

B (not verified)

3 months 1 week ago

Thank you so much for this delightful article!

Judi Allard-Carroll (not verified)

3 months 1 week ago

I live in Charlton MA. I’ve had House Wrens for years. Their song is so beautiful. And they do sing all day long. It was an interesting article and happy to learn more about them.

Sabina (not verified)

4 years 11 months ago

Took the wreath off front door that they loved to build nests in after twice shooing them out of the living room! Now they have built their home in the grandkids little kitchen cupboard on the back patio for the past five years. Fun to watch the babies with the kids. But this year the nest was abandoned with three eggs left in it. I'm afraid of what happened to mama. We have a lot of hawks...

P dachisen (not verified)

4 years 11 months ago

Out skirts of Jim Thorpe Pa. Top of mountain. Landed on deckrail of my screen porch singing. Ate feast of rosie red maple moths off screen door. Then built nest in the top of my propane tank.

Donald Montgomery (not verified)

5 years ago

When I was a child and growing up on a small farm in south-central Ohio, there would be many of these little creatures hanging around. I remember my father having a seed spreader with a small bag attached. One late Spring day I went to the barn where the bag was hanging and discovered that a Wren had built a nest in the bag. As a child I watch the eggs hatch, the little ones get larger from the insects their mother brought each day, and then watched them fly off 3 weeks later. How many of our children see and love the ways of nature today?

Ruth Kelley (not verified)

5 years ago

I discovered a nest in a tall flower pot on our patio under a geranium plant. The birds are hard working parents, feeding their babies throughout the day. They seem to like insects & worms, not birdseed. I named the mother Bertie. Thanks for the identification! Now we know that Bertie is a House Wren. The babies are growing quickly. Wondering when they learn to fly?

Johnathan (not verified)

5 years 10 months ago

Put a birdhouse in my backyard maple tree. A wren has made its home in there. Found this site with the sound to identify the type of bird. Glad we could provide a home for the little fella

Jude (not verified)

6 years 10 months ago

House Wrens have made a home a small bird house in backyard maple tree. Love the song that goes on and on repeating through the day! (Carmel, Indiana)