House Wren in December
Where house wrens are in December, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
December in the House Wren's year
December is the start of the true winter season. Birds are settled into winter ranges and flocking behavior peaks — mixed flocks move through woods and yards together, and feeding stations become social hubs. Short days mean birds must find most of their food in a few hours of daylight.
For the House Wren specifically, December is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 54 states and provinces where house wrens occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where house wrens are in December
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In December, house wrens are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in December
House wrens are not nesting in December. The season runs May–August at mid-latitudes.
That makes December a useful month for nest-box work: cleaning out old nesting material, checking mounts and predator guards, and making repairs while boxes are empty. A box that's ready early gets claimed early.
What to feed in December
- Insects on wintering grounds in the southern U.S. and Mexico
House wrens rarely visit feeders. They are attracted by brush piles, insect-rich plantings and nest boxes placed near shrub cover.
Feeders are busiest at dawn and dusk as birds fuel up against long cold nights. Suet and other high-fat foods earn their keep this month.
Watching house wrens this month
House wrens are settled and predictable in December, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
If you have a House Wren box up, this is the month to make sure it's clean, secure and ready — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
House Wren month by month
House Wren by state
Frequently asked
Where are house wrens in December?
In December, house wrens are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do house wrens nest in December?
No — house wrens typically nest May through August at mid-latitudes.
What do house wrens eat in December?
Insects on wintering grounds in the southern U.S. and Mexico.
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
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.