House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

The House Wren is the most widely distributed wren in the Western Hemisphere. We can find it from Canada to South America. In North America it is migratory, except in a few locations such as coastal Southern California, where it is resident. In winters, these birds find their way into the southern USA states and some travel deep into Mexico. When spring approaches, they migrate north and spend the breeding season in the northern ¾ of the USA, and range as far north as the prairie provinces of Canada.

Science recognises at least 31 subspecies of House Wren, sometimes divided into four groups. Those four groups are:

Northern House Wren (lives in Canada and USA)
- T. a. aedon breeds in southeastern Canada and the eastern USA. They spend winters in the southeastern United States and Gulf of Mexico lowlands.
- T. a. parkmanii lives in southern Canada and south to northern Baja California (Mexico) and in the USA to west Texas and Kentucky. They spend winters in the southern USA from California to Texas, and south to southern Mexico.
- T. a. baldwini breeds in south-central Canada to the southern USA
- T. a. rufescens lives in Dominica.
- T. a. martinicensis lives in Martinique (possibly extinct).
- T. a. mesoleucus lives in St Lucia.
- T. a. guadeloupensis lives in the Lesser Antilles (possibly extinct).
Southern House Wren (lives in Central and South America)
- Includes T. a. peninsularis, T. a. intermedius, T. a. inquietus, T. a. carychrous, T. a. pallidipes, T. a. atopus, T. a. striatulus, T. a. columbae, T. a. effutitus, T. a. albicans, T. a. tobagensis, T. a. musculus, T. a. rex, T. a. carabayae, T. a. puna, T. a. audax, T. a. tecellatus, T. a. atacamensis, T. a. chilensis, and T. a. bonariae.
Brown-Throated Wren (lives in Mexico)
- T. a. cahooni and T. a. brunneicollis
Cozumel Wren (lives on Cozumel Island, Mexico)
- T. a. beani

House Wrens nest in cavities, both natural and man-made, and are fierce competitors for nest sites. They will attack much larger birds, destroying eggs and even killing adults to dominate desired nesting locations. Birds such as swallows, bluebirds, chickadees suffer nest failures because of these tiny firecrackers. In my experience, nearly every birdhouse I place on my Southern California property will host a House Wren family. Even though I get Bewick’s Wrens year-round. When spring comes, I can count on the bubbly song of the house wren at each nest box.

35 Photos

House Wren - Troglodytes aedon — **House Wren**
*(Troglodytes aedon)*

**Description:**
Juvenile along Milk Ranch Road, near Cuyamaca Mountain. South of Julian, California. San Diego County, California.
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**Date Taken:** 2013:06:15 9:21

**Location:**

Cuyamaca
Julian, California
United States
5042.90 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000

**File Name:** D3X9637-HouseWren-Juvenile

© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Pin It — **House Wren**
*(Troglodytes aedon)*

**Description:**
Juvenile along Milk Ranch Road, near Cuyamaca Mountain. South of Julian, California. San Diego County, California.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2013:06:15 9:21

**Location:**

Cuyamaca
Julian, California
United States
5042.90 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000

**File Name:** D3X9637-HouseWren-Juvenile

© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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**JCD_7444HouseWren-2.jpgJCD_7444HouseWren-2.jpg**

**Description:**
Santa Rosa Mountain, Southern Riverside County, California.
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**Date Taken:** 2004:07:26 13:30

**Location:**

Santa Rosa Mountain
Mountain Center, California
United States
7388.81 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/60

**File Name:** JCD_7444HouseWren-2

© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging

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