House wrens are small, active songbirds that are found throughout most of North America. They get their name from their tendency to nest in all kinds of man-made structures near human habitation like garages, sheds, birdhouses, and holes in buildings. House wrens build a nest out of twigs and fill it with sticks and grass to hold their tiny eggs.
After the eggs hatch, both parents work hard to raise the chicks by constantly bringing them insects to eat. Within two weeks, the chicks are ready to leave the nest. This process of a baby bird leaving the nest before it can fly is called fledging. After fledging, the parents continue to care for the young wrens for a few more weeks to teach them how to find food and survive. But where exactly do the young house wrens go after leaving the nest?
Leaving the Nest
House wren chicks typically fledge from the nest when they are about 14-17 days old. At this stage, their wings and legs are developed enough for them to hop and flutter short distances, but they cannot yet fly skillfully. Fledging often occurs in the early morning hours. The parents coax the chicks out of the nest by calling to them and showing them food they have caught.
One by one, the chicks will perch on the edge of the nest entrance before taking the leap to a nearby branch or the ground below. This first flight from the nest, while awkward and unsteady, is an important step in their development into independent juvenile birds. Fledging is a vulnerable time since the chicks are exposed and lack experience, so the parents continue diligently caring for and feeding the fledglings.
Hiding Out Near the Nest
For the first 7-10 days after leaving the nest, newly fledged house wrens do not travel far at all. They tend to stay very close to their original nest site, hiding out in dense bushes and shrubs nearby. This gives them time to grow stronger, improve their flying, and learn to find some food on their own all while staying within their parents’ territory.
The fledglings generally stay low in vegetation during this early post-fledging period. Their small size and brown coloration help camouflage them in the leaves and branches. By remaining inconspicuous, they are less likely to attract the attention of predators. The parents may lead the fledglings to several different suitable hiding spots each day within about 100 feet of the nest. At night, they return to roost in the old nest or very close by.
Gaining Independence
After the first week and a half on the wing, house wren fledglings become more independent and start ranging farther from the nest site. They begin following their parents over a larger area up to 400 feet away to look for insects and spiders to eat.
The young wrens gain confidence and stamina in their flying abilities through this important practice. They also hone their skills at foraging on their own. The parents still bring food to them regularly but are weaning them off total dependence.
By 2-3 weeks post-fledging, the joung wrens are adept fliers and totally independent. They may disperse even farther away from their natal area. The parents complete their duties and focus their energy on a second brood or migrating south.
Dangers for Fledglings
The couple weeks after leaving the nest are by far the most hazardous time in a house wren’s life. Fledglings face many threats from predators like cats, snakes, squirrels, raccoons, and birds of prey while they are still naive, weak flyers. Their camouflage and hiding strategy helps, but mortality rates are high.
If the young wrens survive this risky period and reach adulthood, they can live for 5-10 years. The juvenile birds must learn survival skills quickly during those first vulnerable weeks or they likely will not make it. Hardships like storms, lack of food, or competition with other wrens can also jeopardize fledglings. With so many perils, it is remarkable any manage to succeed.
Migrating South
As summer ends and autumn approaches, house wrens prepare to migrate from their breeding range in Canada and the northern United States to their wintering grounds in the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America. The adults normally head south first beginning in August and September.
Most fledglings from that summer disperse prior to migration and are independent by this point. However, evidence shows some young wrens may join flocks with adults that likely include their parents and follow their lead on the migration route. The juveniles stick close to the older birds, learning the way.
House wrens travel solely at night on migration. Their journey south takes several weeks with stops to rest and refuel. The full-grown juveniles seem capable of making this long trek successfully on their first try. Instinct and guidance from the adults help steer them to the proper warm destination for spending the cold months ahead.
Conclusion
The period immediately after house wrens fledge from their nest is a major transition. At first, the helpless fledglings stay hidden in vegetation close to the nest site where the parents can care for them. Within a few weeks, they rapidly gain flying skill, independence, and survival savvy. The young wrens disperse farther away and may join migrating flocks in the fall to travel to southern winter quarters. Under the right conditions, fledgling house wrens can successfully mature into the next breeding generation.