Name: House Wren

Description: Of the nine North American species of Wrens, the House Wren is the most common and best known. The House Wren is small in size and brown in color with a fine, down-curved bill and stubby cocked tail. The secretive House Wren hops about on the ground with its short tail held up. It often punctures the eggs of nearby nesting birds, both of its own and other species. House Wrens summer across Canada and the northern United States, migrating to the southern U.S. or north and central Mexico in winter.

Other Names: Brown Wren, Wood Wren, Jenny Wren

Color: Eastern House Wrens are browner above, buff-colored below. Western House Wrens are grayer above, paler below. Both genders look alike, but young House Wrens have a bright reddish-brown rump.

Sound: The House Wren is a song bird that sings a sweet, bubbly, pleasant, vibrant song.

Preferred Environment: House Wrens like to build their nests near human dwellings and are not afraid of people, but will utter scolding notes of alarm if you get too close to their nests.

Nesting Habits: The male House Wren arrives to the nesting area first, filling the nesting cavity with small sticks. These so-called dummy nests are built to dissuade other birds from setting up housekeeping in their territory. When the female arrives about 10 days later, she inspects the stick-filled cavities and selects the one she likes. She'll throw out most of the sticks and rearrange the nest, lining it with twigs, hair, feathers, catkins and fluff.

Food Preference: House Wrens feed almost entirely on insects.