Newfoundland and Labrador · Summer breeder

Winter Wrens in Newfoundland and Labrador

When winter wrens are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.

Wrens (Troglodytidae)Winter WrenTroglodytes hiemalis

Status in Newfoundland and Labrador: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 0a–6b

When to expect winter wrens in Newfoundland and Labrador

Winter Wrens are summer residents in Newfoundland and Labrador, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent.

Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador

Across Newfoundland and Labrador, winter wrens typically nest from May–July. Plan around that window: April for setup, July for clean-out.

Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.

Winter Wrens don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern white pine, paper birch, red maple for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract winter wrens

Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 8 provide food or cover winter wrens use:

Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Red maple

Acer rubrum · Tree

Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Balsam fir

Abies balsamea · Tree

Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.

White spruce

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Tamarack

Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Feeding winter wrens through the Newfoundland and Labrador year

Top foods: Suet crumbs, Mealworms.
In Newfoundland and Labrador's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for winter wrens · Best feeder for winter wrens

Frequently asked

Are winter wrens in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?

No. Winter Wrens are summer breeders in Newfoundland and Labrador and leave for the winter.

When do winter wrens nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–9 eggs, incubated for 14–16 days.

What native plants attract winter wrens in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Eastern white pine, Paper birch, Red maple, Chokecherry, Balsam fir, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for winter wrens.

Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Purple Finch American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Canada Jay White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Common Raven Sharp-shinned Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Scarlet Tanager Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.