How to Attract House Wrens With a Nest Box
House wrens are small, plain brown birds with a huge, bubbling song. They rarely visit feeders, but they're easy to attract with a nest box, and they'll spend the summer eating insects in your garden.
Put up a nest box
House wrens readily use small nest boxes with an entrance hole of about 1 to 1 1/4 inches. Hang it 5 to 10 feet up near shrubs or the edge of trees.
Males fill several holes with twigs and let the female choose, so don't worry if a box fills with sticks.
Keep the insects coming
House wrens eat insects and spiders. Native plants, a little leaf litter, and skipping pesticides keep their food supply healthy.
Know their habits
House wrens can be aggressive toward other cavity nesters nearby. Place wren boxes away from bluebird boxes, near shrubs rather than open lawn.
Frequently asked questions
Do house wrens eat birdseed?
Almost never. They eat insects, so a nest box and a garden full of bugs attract them best.
When do house wrens arrive?
Usually in late April or May across most of the US.
What size hole do house wrens need?
About 1 to 1 1/4 inches. A smaller hole keeps out house sparrows.
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