Uploaded June 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
A house wren weighs about as much as two quarters.
It is a fierce competitor for nest holes. They will harass and peck at much larger birds, sometimes dragging eggs and young out of a nest site they want. Even occasionally killing adult birds. In home areas they are the main source of nest failure for bluebirds, tree swallows, warblers and chickadees.
A house wren can feed 500 spiders and caterpillars to its nestlings during a single summer afternoon.
House wren are known to also add spider egg sacs to their nesting materials. This is to help control mites that may take over the nesting area.
For house wren eggs, temperature inside the nest box can be critical to survival. If a sun-drenched nest box warms above about 106 degrees F for an hour. the eggs will begin to die. If a cold snap chills a nest below about 65 degrees F for more than a day it can also doom the eggs.
A house wren weighs about as much as two quarters.
It is a fierce competitor for nest holes. They will harass and peck at much larger birds, sometimes dragging eggs and young out of a nest site they want. Even occasionally killing adult birds. In home areas they are the main source of nest failure for bluebirds, tree swallows, warblers and chickadees.
A house wren can feed 500 spiders and caterpillars to its nestlings during a single summer afternoon.
House wren are known to also add spider egg sacs to their nesting materials. This is to help control mites that may take over the nesting area.
For house wren eggs, temperature inside the nest box can be critical to survival. If a sun-drenched nest box warms above about 106 degrees F for an hour. the eggs will begin to die. If a cold snap chills a nest below about 65 degrees F for more than a day it can also doom the eggs.
