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The House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) is a very small songbird of the wren family, Troglodytidae. It occurs from Canada to southernmost South America, and is thus the most widely distributed bird in the Americas. It occurs in most suburban areas in its range and it is the single most common wren. Its taxonomy is highly complex and some subspecies groups are often considered separate species.

Though living about 9,000 kilometres (5,600 mi) away, southern house wrens in São Paulo (Brazil) differ from their northern relatives in voice more than in looks
Adults are 4.3 to 5.1 in long, with a 5.9 in wingspan and weigh about 0.35 to 0.42 oz. All subspecies show a faint eye-ring and eyebrow and have a long, thin bill with a blackish upper mandible, and a black-tipped yellowish or pale grey lower mandible. The legs are pinkish or grey. The short tail is typically held cocked.

This bird's rich bubbly song is commonly heard during the nesting season but rarely afterwards. There is marked geographical variation in the song, though somewhat more gradual than in the bird's outward appearance that can strikingly differ, e.g., on neighboring islands in the Caribbean. Birds from far north and south of the species' range nonetheless have songs that differ markedly.

The house wren is usually divided into three distinct subspecies groups and one or several distinct island-endemic subspecies. Some or all of these are often considered distinct species.

Northern house wren, Troglodytes (aedon) aedon group – Canada to southern USA
Brown-throated wren, Troglodytes (aedon) brunneicollis group – southern USA and central ranges of Mexico
Cozumel wren, Troglodytes (aedon) beani – Cozumel Island off the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Southern house wren, Troglodytes (aedon) musculus group – southern Mexico, Central and South America

In North America, the house wren is thought to achieve the highest density in floodplain forests in the western great plains where it uses woodpecker holes as nesting sites. In South and Central America it can be found in virtually any habitat and is, as indicated by its common name, often associated with humans. North American birds migrate to the southern United States and Mexico for winter. Most return to the breeding grounds in late April to May, and leave for winter quarters again around September to early October. These birds forage actively in vegetation. They mainly eat insects such as butterfly larvae, also spiders and snails. Southern house wrens rarely attend mixed-species feeding flocks.

Migrant populations are nesting within 6 weeks of returning from winter quarters, leaving theoretically time for a second brood. In the subtropical montane forest of northwestern Argentina and similar habitat, the southern house wren breeds in the rainy summer months from late October to late December.

John James Audubon illustrates the house wren in Birds of America (published, London 1827–38) as Plate 83. The image was engraved and colored by the Robert Havell, London workshops. The original watercolor by Audubon was purchased by the New York History Society.

The House Wren Troglyodytes acdon is a small wren whose habitat is dense bushes and forests. The first three photos were taken at the Shipley Nature Center, Huntington Beach, CA. The last four were taken at the Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Villa Park, CA, Those labeled Suthern HOuse Wren were taken in Trinidad.

House Wren

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Southern House Wren-155

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