The best bird feeder and seed for wrens
Insect eaters. Wrens visit suet and mealworms far more than seed. A brush pile near the feeder does more for wrens than any feeder.
Which feeder types do wrens use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suet cage | Suet cakes | Squirrels chew suet | The simplest feeder there is. Hang on a trunk or pole. |
| Mealworm feeder | Mealworms | Low interest | Dish or enclosed box with bluebird-sized entry holes that keep larger birds out. |
| Platform or tray feeder | Anything | None at all | Draws the widest range of species, including ground feeders. Needs a mesh floor for drainage and daily cleanup. |
Feeders wrens use, budget to premium
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What seed do wrens like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Suet and suet dough | Rendered suet cakes are the standard; no-melt doughs blend fat with flour or cornmeal to hold shape in heat. | Raw suet goes rancid above about 70 F; use no-melt dough in summer |
| Mealworms | Dried mealworms are easy to store; soaking them briefly in warm water makes them more appealing. Live worms work best for bluebirds. | Dried keep for months; live need refrigeration |
| Shelled peanuts | Raw or dry-roasted, never salted or flavoured. Use a mesh feeder so birds peck pieces rather than swallowing whole kernels in nesting season. | Keep dry and cool; mould is the risk |
Food to buy for wrens
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Where and when should you feed wrens?
- Height and spot: Low, near dense cover.
- When: House wrens in summer; Carolina wrens year round in the Southeast.
- Range: House wren nationwide in summer; Carolina wren across the East.
- Feeding style: Comfortable feeding on the ground or a low tray, so clear spilled seed and keep cats away.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, house finches, chickadees and titmice, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: Wrens use nest boxes. See the House Wren house dimensions: 4 x 4 inch floor, 1 to 1 1/4 in hole, mounted 5 to 10 ft up.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the wrens feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for wrens on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for wrens?
A suet cage is the most reliable choice for wrens. Insect eaters. Wrens visit suet and mealworms far more than seed. Pair it with suet and suet dough, place it low, near dense cover, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a mealworm feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do wrens eat at feeders?
In order of preference: suet and suet dough, mealworms and shelled peanuts. Rendered suet cakes are the standard; no-melt doughs blend fat with flour or cornmeal to hold shape in heat. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for wrens?
Low, near dense cover. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so wrens can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do wrens come to feeders?
House wrens in summer; Carolina wrens year round in the Southeast. Range: House wren nationwide in summer; Carolina wren across the East. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season wrens are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do wrens use birdhouses?
Yes. Wrens are cavity nesters and will use a nest box built to their dimensions: a 4 x 4 inch floor and a 1 to 1 1/4 in entrance, mounted 5 to 10 feet up. See the dedicated box page for placement.