Wrens are small, active songbirds that can be found across much of North America. They are known for their loud, complex songs and for their habit of nesting in small cavities. Wrens do not build their own nests, instead relying on cavities like old woodpecker holes, natural crevices, or man-made nest boxes. This has led many people to wonder: do wrens like and use hanging birdhouses?
Quick Answers
In short, yes, wrens will readily use hanging nest boxes, provided the boxes meet their needs. Wrens prefer small cavity openings, around 1-1.5 inches across, and shallow depth of 4-6 inches. Popular wren house designs include gourd-style houses and rectangular wooden boxes. Placement is also important, as wrens like nest sites 3-10 feet off the ground, in semi-open areas near cover. With the right nest box in the right location, wrens frequently accept hanging birdhouses. Monitoring and cleaning out old nests annually will make houses more attractive to wrens.
What Types of Birds Use Hanging Birdhouses?
Many different bird species nest in hanging birdhouses, including:
- Wrens
- Chickadees
- Titmouse
- Bluebirds
- Swallows
- Nuthatches
- Some woodpeckers
- Flycatchers
Small songbirds like wrens, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches are most likely to use hanging nest boxes. Larger birds like woodpeckers may also use them. Birds that nest in cavities but don’t use hanging boxes include owls, ducks, and kestrels, which nest in larger natural cavities like tree holes.
Why Do Birds Use Hanging Birdhouses?
Birds use hanging nest boxes for the same reason they use natural cavities – for a safe place to lay their eggs and raise their young. Features that make hanging houses attractive include:
- A small, enclosed space to contain the nest.
- A cavity opening just the right size for the species.
- Protection from predators and elements.
- Good drainage in rainy weather.
Hanging houses are artificial cavities that mimic the natural hollows in trees, rock crevices, and tunnels that many birds rely on for nest sites. Birds have adapted over time to seek out and occupy these sheltered nooks.
What Do Wrens Look for in a Nest Box?
Wrens have some specific criteria they look for when seeking out a nest cavity:
- A small opening about 1-1.5 inches across. This excludes larger competitors.
- Shallow depth of 4-6 inches from front to back. Wrens don’t build deep nests.
- Packed wood shavings or chips in the bottom to form a base.
- No perch or ledge on the front. Wrens prefer to fly directly in.
- Roughened inside walls that allow climbing.
Meeting these needs will make a hanging box much more attractive to wrens scoping out options for their nest site.
Do Wrens Prefer Hanging Birdhouses?
Wrens do not necessarily prefer hanging birdhouses compared to other types. But they are very likely to use hanging houses, so long as their needs are met. Hanging boxes may have some advantages over other placement options:
- Visibility – hanging boxes are often more visible than one tucked onto a tree.
- Protection – hanging from a wire makes the nest less accessible to predators.
- Temperature – suspended boxes may maintain more stable temperatures.
- Drainage – water can drain out the bottom of hanging nests.
Yet wrens are known to nest in all kinds of locations – old boots, flower pots, mail boxes, crannies on boats – not just birdhouses. They will use whatever suitable cavity is available.
How to Attract Wrens to Hanging Birdhouses
Follow these tips to make your hanging nest box irresistible to wrens in your yard:
- Use a small box around 3-5 inches square floorspace.
- Drill a 1-1.5 inch circular entry hole near the top.
- Hang box 3-10 feet off the ground with a wire or chain.
- Place box in semi-open area near bushes or trees.
- Pack box loosely with wood shavings or chips.
- Clean out old nests after breeding season.
- Have multiple boxes spread around the yard.
- Be patient! It may take weeks or months for wrens to find and accept a new box.
Best Places to Hang Wren Houses
When deciding where to place wren houses, look for areas in your yard that provide:
- Partial shade – avoid hot, direct sun.
- Some shelter from wind and rain – near trees or eaves.
- Protection – keep away from busy areas and potential predators.
- Uneven terrain – place near or hang from bushes, stumps, woody debris.
- Nearby foraging – insects in adjacent gardens, trees or shrubs.
Wrens are active foragers and need a good source of insects nearby to continually feed their demanding young.
Different Types of Hanging Birdhouses for Wrens
Popular styles of hanging wren houses include:
- Gourd houses – Made from natural dried gourds or shaped from materials like wood or concrete. Have a round opening and pendant shape.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Natural appearance and materials | Can deteriorate over time |
Fun, decorative look | Round shape doesn’t allow corner perch |
Come in small sizes | Drainage can be poor in solid gourds |
- Wooden nest boxes – Small wooden boxes made of natural wood or composite wood. May be plain or painted/stained.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Durable over many years | Plain boxes lack decorative natural appeal |
Customizable size and shape | Can overheat if dark color |
Easier to clean than gourds | Need to control moisture/rot with paint or stain |
There are also more unique, decorative hanging boxes shaped like rustic cabins, churches, barns, etc. But simpler is often better – wrens care more that the cavity is the right size than what it looks like outside.
Tips for Caring for Hanging Wren Houses
To keep your hanging wren houses in good shape for years to come:
- Use durable, rot-resistant wood or a weatherproof finish.
- Check boxes yearly for any damage or wear.
- Clean out old nests and debris after breeding season.
- Consider pest control mesh to reduce mites.
- Renew weatherproof finishes as needed.
- Ensure any drainage holes remain clear.
- Repair or replace any frayed hanging wires.
Taking care of your boxes will ensure they remain safe and habitable spots for wrens to raise their families season after season.
How to Monitor and Clean Hanging Wren Houses
Here are some tips for properly monitoring and cleaning wren houses each year:
- Wait until Fall when nests are empty to clean boxes.
- Carefully open the box and remove all nest material and waste.
- Check interior walls and corners for mites – scrub with soap/water if needed.
- Rinse out interior and allow to fully dry.
- Replace old wood shavings/chips with fresh ones.
- Seal any new holes or gaps in the structure.
- Make any minor repairs needed.
Following this annual ritual will provide wrens with a clean, secure place to build their new nests come Spring.
How to Identify Wrens Nesting in Hanging Birdhouses
To identify the wren species using your hanging nest box, look for these clues:
Carolina Wren
- Reddish-brown overall with pale buff underparts.
- Faint white eye stripe and light streaking on wings/tail.
- Pointed bill and bright white throat.
- Loud, variable, bubbling song.
- Found in eastern/southeastern U.S.
House Wren
- More uniformly brown than Carolina wren.
- Paler on throat and belly.
- Shorter bill and lacking white eye stripe.
- Rapid, bubbly song with frequent pauses.
- Found throughout most of continental U.S./southern Canada.
Bewick’s Wren
- Grayish-brown upperparts and lighter gray underparts.
- Long white eyebrow stripe.
- Long tail often held cocked upright.
- Complex song of trills and descending, buzzy notes.
- Found in western and south-central North America.
Familiarizing yourself with your local wren species will help you identify the birds using your hanging nest boxes.
Conclusion
In summary, wrens readily accept and benefit from properly designed and placed hanging birdhouses. Their small size and appetite for insects make them fun yard visitors that will bring color and activity when provided with appropriate nesting cavities. Hanging boxes are an easy way to observe the charming antics of these tiny cavity nesters up close. With a customized wren house set out each year, you’ll have the pleasure of this little bird’s company for many seasons to come.