Bewick's Wrens in Colorado
When Bewick's wrens are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
- Nest box
- 1 1/4 in hole, 4 × 4 in floor, 5–10 ft
When to expect Bewick's wrens in Colorado
Bewick's Wrens live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insects; suet.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, Bewick's wrens typically nest from March–June. Nest site: cup in cavities or nest boxes. Females lay 3–8 eggs, incubate for 14–16 days, and young leave the nest after 14 days.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before February — Bewick's wrens begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 1 1/4 in entrance on a 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–10 ft.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.
Native Colorado plants that attract Bewick's wrens
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover Bewick's wrens use:
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding Bewick's wrens through the Colorado year
Uses nest boxes and odd cavities in yards; has vanished from most of the East.
- Best foods: Suet, Mealworms.
- In Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Full diet breakdown for Bewick's wrens · Best feeder for Bewick's wrens
Frequently asked
Are Bewick's wrens in Colorado year-round?
Yes. Bewick's Wrens are year-round residents in Colorado.
When do Bewick's wrens nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs March–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–8 eggs, incubated for 14–16 days.
What native plants attract Bewick's wrens in Colorado?
New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for Bewick's wrens.
What size birdhouse hole do Bewick's wrens need?
1 1/4 in, with a floor of 4 × 4 in mounted 5–10 ft.
Bewick's Wrens in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
Sources
- Bewick's Wren — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bewick's Wren life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bewick's Wren — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Colorado
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.