Perch Supply
Diet

What do Carolina wrens eat?

Almost entirely insects and spiders; takes suet and nuts in winter.

Wrens (Troglodytidae)Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus

Spring and summer diet

  • Caterpillars, beetles, crickets and spiders

Fall and winter diet

  • Suet, peanut pieces and mealworms at feeders

Best feeder foods

  • Suet
  • Mealworms
  • Peanut hearts

Carolina Wrens skulk low and visit feeders placed near brush piles; severe winters knock back northern populations.

Which feeder works best for Carolina wrens →

Where Carolina wrens need winter food

Regions where Carolina wrens are present in the cold months:

AlabamaArkansasConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMarylandMassachusettsMississippiMissouriNebraskaNew JerseyNew YorkNorth CarolinaOhioOklahomaOntarioPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaTennesseeTexasVirginiaWest Virginia

Frequently asked

What do Carolina wrens eat?

Almost entirely insects and spiders; takes suet and nuts in winter.

What is the best food to feed Carolina wrens?

Suet, Mealworms, Peanut hearts.

What do Carolina wrens eat in winter?

Suet, peanut pieces and mealworms at feeders.

Sources

  1. Carolina Wren — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Carolina Wren life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Carolina Wren — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab

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.