House Wren

Nest box Plan and Information

Select another species:

House Wren
© Stephen
Construction difficulty:
moderate

Download Nest Box Plan

Species in decline

This species is in decline in certain regions. You can put up a nest box to help if you live in the right region and habitat.

  • Declining
  • Not declining
  • Not present
Source: USGS

Nesting Range

House Wren Range Source: Birds of the World

Nesting Habitat

  • Forest
  • Open Woodland
  • Shrub
  • Town

Attach Nest Box To

  • Building
  • Dead Tree
  • Live tree
  • Pole

Known Nesting Period

Not Nesting
Some Nesting Occurrence
Nesting in Most of Range
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Source: Birds of the World

Nest Box Placement

Nest Height:
5ft
10ft

5–10 feet

Minimum Spacing:

100 feet

Facing:

Any

Nest Box Measurements

Entrance Hole:

1"

Depth:

8"

Width & Length:

5 1/2"

5 1/2"

Click here to get this plan

Helpful Tips

  • Place nest box within 100' of woody vegetation, but make sure there is enough space around the box so the wrens can fly freely to and from the entrance hole.
  • Male House Wrens typically defend more than one cavity, and may fill all of the nest boxes in the territory with twiggy "mock nests." Only one will be selected and used by the female.
  • Both sexes may destroy the eggs or nestlings of nearby cavity nesters in the process of taking over a nest site, so it is a good idea to place nest boxes intended for other species at least 100' away from wren boxes and in more open habitat that is less attractive to wrens.

Did you know that NestWatch is seeking more data on this species?

Learn about House Wren here.