House Wrens in Minnesota
When house wrens are present in Minnesota, when they nest, which native Minnesota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Minnesota
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
- Nest box
- 1 to 1 1/8 in round hole, 4 × 4 in floor, 5–10 ft near shrubs
When to expect house wrens in Minnesota
House Wrens are summer residents in Minnesota, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, caterpillars and crickets; spiders and flies.
Continental, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in Minnesota
Across Minnesota, house wrens typically nest from May–August. Nest site: almost any cavity — boxes, gourds, even boots and flowerpots; males build several stick-filled dummy nests. Females lay 3–10 eggs, incubate for 9–16 days, and young leave the nest after 15–17 days.
A short, intense breeding season; most nesting runs May through July.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — house wrens begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 1 to 1 1/8 in round entrance on a 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–10 ft near shrubs.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after August.
Native Minnesota plants that attract house wrens
Of the regional native plants we track for Minnesota, these 8 provide food or cover house wrens use:
White fruit and red-stemmed winter cover.
Acorns and bark insects.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding house wrens through the Minnesota year
House wrens rarely visit feeders. They are attracted by brush piles, insect-rich plantings and nest boxes placed near shrub cover.
- Best foods: Mealworms (occasionally).
- Avoid: Seed — house wrens do not eat it.
- In Minnesota's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are house wrens in Minnesota year-round?
No. House Wrens are summer breeders in Minnesota and leave for the winter.
When do house wrens nest in Minnesota?
Nesting in Minnesota typically runs May–August, with 2 per season. Clutches are 3–10 eggs, incubated for 9–16 days.
What native plants attract house wrens in Minnesota?
Red-osier dogwood, Bur oak, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Minnesota that provide food or cover for house wrens.
What size birdhouse hole do house wrens need?
1 to 1 1/8 in round, with a floor of 4 × 4 in mounted 5–10 ft near shrubs.
House Wrens in other regions
Other backyard birds in Minnesota
Sources
- House Wren — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- House Wren life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- House Wren — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Minnesota
- 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.