Northern House Wren Photo Gallery
Adult (Northern)
Small, nondescript brown bird with a short tail, thin bill, and dark barring on wings and tail with a paler throat.
© Andy Witchger / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, May 03, 2017Adult (Brown-throated)
The "Brown-throated" subspecies group, found in Southeastern Arizona and the mountains of Mexico, is warm brown, especially below.
© Ed Corey / Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 20, 2020Adult (Northern)
Small, fairly plain brown wren with indistinct eyebrow stripe and strongly barred tail and wings. Bubbly song is given frequently in spring and early summer.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 05, 2022Not all videos have soundAdult (Northern)
The distinctive loud bubbling song is often heard before the bird is seen.
© Blair Dudeck / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, June 05, 2020Adult (Northern)
Dark barring on the wings and tail contrast with the more uniform brown plumage elsewhere.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 16, 2016Adult
Forages fairly low in tree branches and shrubs, eating mainly insects and spiders. This video has no audio.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 10, 2006Not all videos have soundAdult (Northern)
The "Northern" subspecies group breeds across southern Canada and most of the United States.
© Ceredig Roberts / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, June 07, 2019Adult (Northern)
Nests in nest boxes, old woodpecker nests, natural crevices, and other cavities.
© Larry Van Brunt / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 08, 2019Adult (Northern)
Song is a long, bubbly jumble of trills and scolds given by both males and females. Often pushes tail downward while singing, unlike other wrens.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 30, 2004Not all videos have soundHabitat (Northern)
Found in scrubby habitats, often close to homes and buildings.
© Court Harding / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, October 26, 2019Adult (Northern)
Nests in tree cavities and birdhouses, where it is a strong competitor for nest sites and may evict larger birds to claim the spot for its own.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryMontana, June 26, 2015Not all videos have soundCompare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Wrens(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Troglodytidae)
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