Gourd works for House Wrens

by Ken
(Buffalo Grove, Illinois)

wren nestling looking out of nest

wren nestling looking out of nest

A relative was going to grow and finish gourd birdhouses and sell them on eBay.

We ended up with a complimentary prototype.

I figured it was just a tree decoration, but as it turned out it was quite functional.

wren leaving gourd birdhouse

Baby Wren Begging for Food



I think the male must have taken 2 weeks or longer to attract a mate.

Day after day, hour after hour, morning till night, the same song over and over with no letup, until the magic day when they met.

I don't know about other nests the male constructed, but the female picked the gourd.

Since the eggs hatched (3 of them) and the task of feeding the chicks began, the adults have become silent.

One of the parents is the nest cleaner, and that's real love, seeing as all they have to clean with is their beaks. Nuf said about that.

I hope to witness and photograph the young's first flight.

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Nesting and sleeping
by: Janet

There have been lots of wren nests in the last few years; in gourds, wood piles, metal bird house, and a cavity next to my window that I pass by (within 2 feet) many times a day.

Oh, and one inside a piece of yard art, an old plastic skeleton with clothes on, sitting.

That was how I met the wren the first time. I was a little too close to the yard art nest and received a good lecture.

A few days ago as it was about to get dark, I noticed a wren hanging around the top of my table umbrella.

I thought I saw him go into one of the folds at the top. Sure enough, upon careful closer inspection, he was inside a hammock-type fold, asleep.

We had a horrendous hail storm the other night and as I was looking outside my window, he woke up and perched one of the bars at the top, until the wind blew it over.

I went out later to check on him, and he was asleep in the turned-over umbrella fold.

Wren babies
by: Anonymous

I have a hanging basket on my back deck that hangs off of the frame of a canopy that covers it. The hanging basket has a hosta in it.

A pair of wrens are occupying the Nest in the hanging basket into which the female laid four eggs about three weeks ago.

A couple of days ago two of the eggs hatched and there are a couple of baby wrens occupying the nest.

Great idea
by: Isaac

I really like the idea and creativity behind it!

It's amazing how you can get a bird family to live in your backyard.

I love your post and creativity!
by: Isaacoomber

It is such an amazing idea to have birds in your backyard, just build a nest for them and soon have the bird family in your neighborhood!!



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Wren Nesting In Cacti

by Sharon O'Neil
(Powhatan, VA)

Carolina Wren Nest Showing Side Entrance

Carolina Wren Nest Showing Side Entrance

I just noticed this nest this morning.

It was constructed very quickly as I watered the Christmas cacti last Friday before leaving for the weekend and there was no sign of it.

I heard the male wren singing while perched on a wind chime support on the porch this morning.

I tilted the blinds slightly to get a better look at him and noticed the nest.

The female flew from it just a bit after that.


I went out and examined it taking the pics at that time.

There are no eggs yet but I'm hopeful to see some soon!

I'm reminded of a wren building a nest in a potted plant on our porch in Texas many years ago when my girls were small.

It was exciting for all of us to observe the progress of the nestlings including fledging.

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Wren nest
by: Macca

Your picture helped me to identify a wren nest on our deck. The nest is in a potted plant about waist high and is identical to your pic, except the mom covered up the hole this morning. Guess she didn't like me coming out to look at it. So fun and exciting!
Thank you!

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Our Singing Friends

by Neal Cardin
(Sonora, KY)

Wren Delivers a Grasshopper for Nestling

Wren Delivers a Grasshopper for Nestling

When our house wrens come to start their nest, it is a very enjoyable time, but not a quiet time.

It is never hard to tell when they are in the area as their song is sung loudly and often starts very early in the morning.

We've never had a hard time attracting the house wrens.

A simple small house hung on the clothesline brought our first two pairs in several years ago.

After moving, we hung two houses under the porch of a storage building during the winter as spring rolled around, in come the birds.

Our birds have never seemed to mind us being around their boxes until this year.

Before they would sing and let us know if we were close, but this year they've become really defensive.

Part of it may be the young cats that have become permanent residents at our house.

The cats can't get to the birds or the boxes, but we know the wrens have a fit when the cat gets near.

One particular bird become very defensive after the eggs hatched.

While watering the flowers one morning near the boxes, one bird followed me and tried to grab my shirt sleeve as I walked away.


We love it when they are around.

We have several other types of birds around our house, but nothing else seems to enjoy singing loud and constantly as the wrens.

We hope they keep coming back.

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Cats Around Nesting Birds
by: Gene

A word of caution. When the young fledge they often end up in a low shrub for a day or two. This makes them easy prey for the cats.

Studies show that indoor cats live longer and healthier lives than cats allowed to roam free.

Window bird housees
by: Anonymous

I have one of the houses you mount to the window so you can see the birds inside.

It was there all summer but no birds came.

The year before, the wrens built the nest behind the Cactus plants I had in this window so I put the house on the outside window just above where they had built their nest, hoping they would go in the house.

I put a leaf inside the opening to help entice them but that didn't get results either.

Does anyone have any episodes on how they get the birds to " find" and use this see thru bird house? Thanks for the help.

Little but loud
by: Diane

I enjoyed your story & know what you are talking about, as we have wrens at our home, also.

They are quite protective but have never had them grab at us.

We do not have any cats on our property & like it that way.

I hope you continue to enjoy your "little but loud" wrens for many years to come.

Wrens
by: Marianne

Thank you for sharing your story - makes me smile. Wrens are just the little entertainers aren't they - what characters. Enjoy your friends.

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Wrens Return to our Porch

2 Day Old Wren Nest

2 Day Old Wren Nest

Two years ago a Carolina Wren made a nest on our porch in a wreath. We named him Little Buddy and became intrigued.

We kept peeking in the wreath to watch the progress which I thought was probably bothersome to the little family.


So, we taped a webcam to the wreath and ran the video to our computer.

We found out we could stream the video and we did...we had a following of kindergartners, libraries, preschools, and normal people like you and me.

It was riveting. We watched the momma nest, then saw the eggs, little hatchlings, and then they were gone.

These parents work hard to feed those babies!

Well, this year I have a cabinet on the porch and a wren is back. We call this one Junior.

Again we've set up the stream and have over 47 views already (in one day).

So far it seems the nest is built and a a bird is sleeping in it at night....anticipating some nesting soon.

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Wrens Winter Nights

by William Lowe
(Bridgehampton)

Red-breasted Nuthatch Under Snow Covered Overhang

Red-breasted Nuthatch Under Snow Covered Overhang

We have a family of wrens that are around all winter on Long Island.

If we do not close the garage door early enough at night, as many as three wrens will be in the garage at daylight looking to get out.

Even though we see no sign of them when we close the garage door.

When they do get shut out of the garage, they will roost for the night in the wreath that hangs on the front door.

This surprises any after dark visitors during the Christmas season as the wrens flee the wreath as company approaches.

My guess is they are looking for warmth through the night.

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why Birds Attack Windows
by: Gene

You may find this page helpful: Why Birds Fly and Attack Windows

wren attack
by: LOIS

For several months 2 house wrens have been attacking our windows and doors. They are there first thing in the morning until dark.

They do not come in if the door is open but they stay on the screen as long as we leave them alone. Why? Thank you

Lois Harvey

Wrens?
by: Gene

Your photo looks to be a Red-breasted Nutchatch

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Peeping Wren

by Karla Joblin
(Tupelo MS USA)

Peek a boo

Peek a boo

If you look in the "hole" in the middle of this nest, you can see the momma Carolina Wren sitting on her eggs.


She and her mate built their nest in a hanging planter basket that was turned sideways on a shelf in our garage.

My husband adjusted the garage door so that it wouldn't close completely and shut them in or shut them out.

They carried in leaves, twigs, and bark over a period of several days, but then we didn't see them and thought maybe they had decided to nest elsewhere.

But soon we saw a tiny egg in the nest followed by another a day or so later. After she finished laying she began sitting on the eggs day and night.

I'm not sure where her mate is staying, but he keeps a close eye on her. Anytime we go into the garage he flies out from wherever he is and perches up high to watch us and make sure we don't bother her.

Thank goodness he doesn't "dive bomb" us like I have seen mockingbirds do. He just watches us until we go inside.

She began sitting on the eggs on June 12 so we should have baby birds around June 26.

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Baby Wren
by: Marianne

Just adorable. Thanks for sharing, it made my day.

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Little Wren Launching

by Rae
(Griswold CT.)

This is the second or third baby who got stuck coming out and went back in the box

This is the second or third baby who got stuck coming out and went back in the box

I have had this box which was more of a decoration than a nesting box for about 5 years. This is the first year a wren made a nest in it.


I watched it closely, took lots of photo's and was fortunate to see the first baby fly off.

The photo's are of the second or third one that just couldn't make it out of the box.

It got stuck and crawled back in the box and chirped for about an hour or so at the hole.

I talked softly to it and approached it carefully and reached out to touch it and it let me stroke it's neck.

It jumped out on my hand and quickly pooped in my hand (LOL), it stayed for a few seconds and then launched from my hand.

The mother and father are now setting up again in the same box with another brood.

The mother stays at the hole for a few minutes and I talk to her before she fly's off to the nearby apple tree.

After the first babies flew off the father was singing his head off for hours during the morning and most of the day and I think he was singing for his mate to come check out the box again.

They are the sweetest little birds that I have ever seen.

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mealworms
by: Gene

In summer it's recommended to soak the Mealworms in warm water before setting them out. The wrens and a lot of other birds will eat them.

Wonderful photo
by: Karen Dugan

Such an endearing photo of the baby wren being helped by a human hand!! Nice job.

comment thank you
by: Rae

thank you for your comments. It appears that now the mommy is sitting on another set of eggs as she lets me get a little close and I talk to her a little before she flies off.

I put out dried Mealworms but not sure the Wrens eat this. The first batch I put out are now gone.

Love it.
by: Diann

Such a precious picture and such a wonderful story.

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Wren Nesting In Fireplace Gas Tank Lid

by Mark Mathosian
(Advance, NC)

It is the beginning of summer in North Carolina and we noticed birds building nest in several trees around our home.

One day while sitting on our back deck we heard little tweets coming from the lid of our gas tank that sits near our master bedroom window.

Closer observation revealed twigs sticking out from under the lid. I carefully opened the lid and a small bird flew out.


Closer observation revealed that this was in fact a bird's nest. I carefully closed the lid so as to not disturb the nest any further.

Then I worried that my tampering with the lid might have scared the bird away for good.

I told my wife about the nest and the small bird that flew away. Because many types of birds visit our yard, including blue birds, doves, blue Jays and others, we couldn't be sure what kind of bird it was based on my quick encounter.

We decided to be pay attention over time to see if the bird returned and then figure out what it was.

We watched and waited for several days and sure enough one day we spotted the small bird returning to the nest.

I obviously did not scare it away for good. My wife thought she recognized what type of bird it was and said it looked like a Wren.

She thumbed through the pages of bird watcher's book we often refer to and sure enough she located the drawing of a familiar bird, it was a Wren.

We first noticed the nest about two weeks ago. Now the tweets have become louder. This morning I carefully lifted the lid again and photographed the baby Wrens in their nest.

We are proud grandparents of at least 3 healthy baby Wrens. There may be another in the back of the nest but I am not sure.

Attached is a photo collage of our new extended family.

Mark Mathosian, Advance, NC

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Wren Family
by: Marianne

Thanks for sharing your wonderful little story. Wren's are enterprising little guys and they really do nest in the oddest places. The picture is so cute! Good Luck to you a your new grandkids.

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Cactus Wren saying Happy Valentines day

by Cindy
(California high desert mtns.)

Just look at the bottom inside of this Wrens tail feathers!

The Cactus Wren can be one of the most annoying birds, to have around your house. They are destructive, mischievous, and LOUD. But then they are one of my favorites!

I always know when something is in and around my house, that shouldn't be.. by the way they squawk.. at trouble. They are, my little watch birdies.

They always seem to get into trouble. I've had to let one out of my wood burning stove, just opened my living room door.. and then opened the door to the stove.. and out it flew.


I heard something flopping around and then saw it in the stove hitting up against the window. Poor little thing.

I didn't even know how long it'd been in there! What if I'd had a fire going in there?? Yikes!

Another time, I heard something scrambling in a bag of trash I'd set near my back door, before taking it out. I was afraid to take a close look.. I did, and there was a Wren.

It'd gone in the bag after something, through the tiny little loops at the opening, and was panicking because it didn't know which way was out. I just ripped the bag open and off it flew.

They've given me some great pictures.. one of which was this one.

When I took a close look at the markings on the inside of its tail feathers, I just about choked!! How awesome!! Hearts!! I since have many pictures like this, that show their hearts.. such a neat find.

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Hearts
by: Sandra

I love your story , they maybe a troublesome bird but they add subsistence to your life///

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Drywall Screw in Wren Nest

by Jeannie
(Allendale, Missouri)

Drywall screw in nest?

Drywall screw in nest?

I noticed little items being placed on our porch below a wrens nest, a weathered piece of glass the size if a nickel, a rusty screw, roofing nail, rusty old nail.

These were left one at a time. I looked at the wrens nest and there was a drywall screw sticking out. Do the males bring gifts to the females? Anyone? I am not a bird watcher as such but this has me baffled?

I came back later and the drywall screw was no longer in the nest but was laying on the porch.

I moved it over next to the other items. Later I went back and noticed the drywall screw was gone.


It makes me think that the male is bringing her items and she has rejected them. I continue to watch and photograph the progress of this baffling mystery.

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My Carolina Wren Guest

by Angela
(Zanesville, OH)

Patient mama

Patient mama

Hi! I am glad I found this site!

Every year I noticed these little brown birds. I always called them nosy birds because they always came to the porch while we were sitting there checking us out.

Anyhow, I would notice one would always build a nest in my hanging vine plant but they never stayed.

This year I saw the same thing, this little brown bird building another nest in same plant. Just last week. So I checked it out and was really impressed by this awesome little cave nest.

Seemed like it was going to remain empty again so I thought nothing of it. Then I go to water said plant and I hear a little "cheep" so I thought there were babies.

I put water the can away and come back to look at the nest and it was empty. So I was baffled I didn't really look deep enough.

So yesterday I look and as I tilted the plant forward and noticed about 4 little tiny eggs! So I must have watered poor mommy as she was laying an egg.

I hadn't seen mama in a while so I was worried she had abandoned the eggs. So I Google little brown nosy birds in Ohio and found a picture which led me to this site and was amazed at the stories.

So I look last night and there she was looking back at me. I took a picture this morning and there she still sat, a patient mama.

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2 birds 1 nest?

by april hofmann
(Salt Springs, Fl)

There is a wren nest built in an old swimming pool where the water goes out of the pool and into the filter.

There are 2 (as far as I can see) babies already hatched and then all of a sudden right at the mouth of the nest another egg appeared with the babies still in the nest.

Today I went to check on them and there is another egg right next to the other one. Is this normal?

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eggs
by: Gene

It's common for them to push eggs that are not going to hatch away from the young. Sometimes they remove them altogether. That way the eggs don't attract predators.

extra eggs
by: Gene

It's more likely these eggs did not hatch and were moved to the edge of the nest. When eggs don't hatch, the adults moves them away from the hatchlings.

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Hand Pump Hidden Nest

by Julie Marlay
(Ottumwa, IA)

Hidden Nest

Hidden Nest

I recently found an old hand water pump in my husband's shop. He decided to clean it up and paint it. We then mounted it to the corner of the deck hand rail.


It only took a few weeks, when I noticed there was a pair of wrens going in and out of the pump spout. As I continued watching, they started bringing small sticks.

It became quite comical if the stick was turned perpendicular to spout and wouldn't go into spout. Eventually, they would drop it enough times that it would be in the correct position for entry.

Whenever I needed to water flowers on or near the pump, I would get scolded for being too close. Once, the little female was right at eye level with her warnings!

In a few weeks, we could hear the chirping of the hatchlings. We watched as female would fly in with food, then wait for male to arrive.

You could see her little beak outside the spout as she took the meal from the male. He would occasionally go into spout, but the majority of times, it was the female.

I only saw one of the babies take its first flight, but didn't have a camera. The photo I have included is the female entering the spout.

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Wrens Return to Nest in Tree By Front Door.

by Kim
(Ooltewah, Tn )

Carolina Wren Nest With Five Eggs

Carolina Wren Nest With Five Eggs

It is so much fun to watch the wrens return again This year to nest in the same spot. I’m not sure if it’s the same wren or different moms every year.

Laying one egg a day, I can’t believe they lay so many eggs for such a little bird. The tree did blow over last night, and we stood it back up this morning, only to find momma bird flying around
You could see she was upset.

Luckily the eggs and nest didn’t fall out. I hope momma bird will get back on her nest.

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Carolina Wren Nesting in Star Wars Bucket

by Anna Boros
(Silverhill, AL USA)

Our grandchildren are big Star Wars Fans.

I bought some buckets with Star Wars pictures for them to play with at our house.

bucket with bird nest inside

Star Wars Bucket with Carolina Wren Nest Inside



I started using them to put weeds I pulled from the flower beds in.

I kept emptying the sticks and weeds but they kept reappearing!

One day I looked in and saw several small eggs in with the sticks and weeds.

Since this bucket is stored next to the window, I was able to get a picture from inside through the blinds.

I can also watch the male Carolina Wren bringing insects to the female.

Since it is gardening season, I am looking forward to the day when I can get my gardening tools, gloves and watering cans off the shelf with the bucket without disturbing our little feathered friends.

I am hoping, since it is time for the eggs to hatch now, and it is the first week of May, that they will be coming out on May the fourth and we will have a bucket of "Kylo Wrens."

May the Fourth...(Force) be with you!

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Wren in the Barn

by Peggy Barnett
(Liberty Mounds, OK)

Carolina Wren Condo

Carolina Wren Condo

Many years ago my grandsons each made me a bird house from old privacy fence boards.

I thought the nest boxes were too small for actual nesting so I used them for decorative purposes.

We recently moved to a rural area and my husband decided to use the nest boxes to decorate his barn, one on each side of the entry door.

A few days ago I saw a Carolina Wren fly into the barn, which I thought was strange as we have only a few trees on our ten acre property.

I investigated and found that the Carolina Wren had discovered the decorative nest box and was raising a family inside.

Talk about a safe place, a nest box, inside a barn. There are fans inside the barn that keep it cool inside during our 100 degree summer.

When the nesting is complete I plan on moving the nest box onto the covered porch outside the barn, just to be sure that the Carolina Wren would not be locked out during the early spring when the exterior door is often closed.

Peggy Barnett
Liberty Mounds, OK

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