Animal Profiles
Birds

House wren

Troglodytes aedon

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The house wren is a small brown songbird with a surprisingly strong voice. This account follows the northern house wren (Troglodytes aedon), rather than the formerly combined American species complex.

Troglodytes aedon (house wren)

Paul Danese · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Habitat
Temperate forest, Towns and cities
Diet
Insectivore
Food
Small insects and other invertebrates.

Classification

Common name
House wren
Browse group
Birds
Scientific name or taxon
Troglodytes aedon
Taxon rank
species
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Troglodytidae
Genus
Troglodytes
Source classification
Aves

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It readily uses nestboxes.
  • Its plain colouring contrasts with a strong song.
  • The former house-wren complex was split in 2024.

Habitat and range

Northern house wrens occur across much of the United States and southern Canada during breeding. Open woods, shrubby edges, parks and backyards provide habitat. The older ADW account’s South American range includes species separated in 2024.

Appearance and adaptations

Fine brown barring, a curved bill and a frequently raised tail give the bird its characteristic shape. Plain colouring makes its loud, busy song especially useful for finding it.

Diet and behaviour

Insects and other small invertebrates are gathered from shrubs and low branches. Pairs use cavities, nestboxes and other enclosed spaces, filling them with twigs. Competition for nest holes can be intense.

Sources

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