House Wrens in Ontario
When house wrens are present in Ontario, when they nest, which native Ontario plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canadian zones 0a–7a yard.
- Status in Ontario
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6)
- 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 Ontario
House Wrens are summer residents in Ontario, 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.
Humid continental in the south, boreal and subarctic in the north; most backyard birding happens in the southern Great Lakes lowlands.
Nesting in Ontario
Across Ontario, 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.
Short, warm summers; Point Pelee and Long Point are continent-famous migration sites.
- 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 Ontario plants that attract house wrens
Of the regional native plants we track for Ontario, these 8 provide food or cover house wrens use:
Fruit and cover.
Insects, seeds and cavities.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Feeding house wrens through the Ontario 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 Ontario's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are house wrens in Ontario year-round?
No. House Wrens are summer breeders in Ontario and leave for the winter.
When do house wrens nest in Ontario?
Nesting in Ontario 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 Ontario?
Red-osier dogwood, Sugar maple, Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry are native plants in Ontario 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 Ontario
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 — Ontario
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas — Birds Canada
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.