Minnesota Seasons - House Wren

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy

Conservation Status

Photo by Bill Reynolds

IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

Minnesota

not listed


	Description


	Size
	4½″ to 5″ in length 6″ wingspan

	Voice




	Similar Species



	Habitat
	Thickets, woodland edges and openings


	Ecology
	Migration
	Late April to mid-October

	Nesting


	Food


	Distribution
	Occurrence
	Common migrant and breeder

	Maps
	The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map


	Taxonomy
	Class	Aves (birds)
	Order	Passeriformes (perching birds)
	Family	Troglodytidae (wrens)
	Genus	Troglodytes (wrens)

	Subordinate Taxa
	Up to 33 subspecies have been described. However, recent DNA analysis shows several of those to be separate species, others geographically isolated intergrades of Brown-throated Wren (Troglodytes brunneicollis), and others poorly differentiated and therefor merged with Eastern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon aedon). Currently only two subspecies are recognized.

	Eastern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon aedon) Western House Wren (Troglodytes aedon parkmanii)

	Synonyms


	Visitor Photos

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	Luciearl

	This little wren had a little bump with the window. Gave it a resting area and was soon ready to fly away.



	Gregory Gilman




	Norm & Peg Dibble

	Wren feeding chick, July 2016, surrounded by my tall Queen of the Prairie plants.



	Wayne Rasmussen




	Bill Reynolds



	This is a House Wren Chick. It had just exited the nest box and was struggle to stay on the branch.




	MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

Camera


	Slideshows


	House Wren Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren




	Western House Wren JMC Nature Photos

slideshow


	Visitor Videos

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	Other Videos


	House Wren singing seahue

	About Published on May 4, 2011 The first time I've seen a house wren!!! I heard a beautiful singing coming from outside my window and spotted this beautiful little bird! I'm pretty sure it is a house wren...correct me if i'm wrong. It is very rare for me to get a bird singing so I am very excited to have the honor:) I also saw two other birds I've never seen before...all in one day! A chipping sparrow couple and a wood thrush. Also the grosbeak has returned and I saw the female towhee!



	House Wren Don DesJardin

	About Uploaded on Mar 14, 2010 A short video showing this little bird with a big voice singing his heart out for a mate. March 2010, Ventura County, California, USA. http://birdsdesjardin.com



	House Wren (Troglodytidae: Troglodytes aedon) Male Singing Carl Barrentine

	About Uploaded on Jun 23, 2009 Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (23 June 2009).



	House Wren Sings the song of the day Bryan Wells

	About Uploaded on Nov 30, 2006 Turn up the volume and enjoy the sights and sounds of a house wren as it sings to find a mate and builds a nest in a bird house. Be sure to see all the other wildlife videos from my home area!



	Singing House Wren Ron Monner

	About Published on Oct 30, 2012 House Wren singing in a tree on a sunny morning.

Camcorder


Visitor Sightings

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Luciearl April 2022	Location: Lake Shore, MN This little wren had a little bump with the window. Gave it a resting area and was soon ready to fly away.



Gregory Gilman 5/20/2019	Location: Rochester, MN



Norm & Peg Dibble July 2016	Location: Maple Grove, MN Wren feeding chick, July 2016, surrounded by my tall Queen of the Prairie plants.



Wayne Rasmussen 8/8/2014	Location: Maplewood Heights Park



Bill Reynolds 6/30/2012



Bill Reynolds 7/4/2008	Location: Pennington Co. This is a House Wren Chick. It had just exited the nest box and was struggle to stay on the branch.



MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

Blaine Preserve SNA Blue Mounds State Park Buffalo River State Park Cedar Mountain SNA Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Cherry Grove Blind Valley SNA Cottonwood River Prairie SNA Des Moines River SNA Glendalough State Park Gneiss Outcrops SNA Grey Cloud Dunes SNA Holthe Prairie SNA Kasota Prairie SNA Miesville Ravine Park Reserve Minnesota Valley NWR, Chaska Unit Mound Spring Prairie SNA, North Unit Pembina Trail Preserve SNA, Crookston Prairie Unit Prairie Smoke Dunes SNA Savage Fen SNA Seven Mile Creek County Park Spring Creek Prairie SNA Townsend Woods SNA Whitetail Woods Regional Park