Diet for Wrens

Wrens are small but very busy birds that work hard tending to their family with great diligence. They are so caring and protective they will feed birds of other species if need be. Always putting their young first, both the mother and father wren will carefully feed all of their young before heading off to eat and relax alone. Once rested they head back to their busy brood to do it all again.

Main Diet

The industrious work of the wren not only serves their family but humans, too. Since their diets consist of bugs and insects, you never have to worry about the wren destroying your garden or flowers. Whenever a wren does eat foliage or vegetation it is very little in quantity and only a result of digging for their original intent, a juicy bug. Wrens love to eat all kinds of bugs and insects such as leafhoppers, grasshoppers, locusts, moths, caterpillars and ants, just to name a few.

Additional Eating

Wrens help gardeners by eating a variety of other bugs, too. Though not their main staple, wrens also eat flying pests such as wasps, flies and bees, along with creepy crawlers like spiders, aphids, snails, ticks and millipedes. The wren is truly a natural pest control that any gardener would love to have on duty. When wintertime approaches the wren loves to feast on holiday treats such as seeds, berries and nuts. While most of their diet is protein that comes from bugs, about 10 percent of the wren diet is obtained through nuts and berries.

Feeding Wrens

If given a choice, the wren prefers to forage for bugs and insects. Many wrens may be hesitant to approach a feeder, but the Carolina wren has been known to be attracted to the suet cake, a square block made of cow kidney fat, peanut butter and birdseed. The suet cake has many different recipes and can be made at home or purchased at a bird center. Quick and easy treats you may already have in your home for wrens are pecans, black oil sunflower seeds, and bananas.

Wren Feeders

Since wrens do not generally migrate, you can enjoy them all year around. Feeding them what they love is a sure way to get to know this tiny delight. When hanging your suet cake you have a choice of buying a holder or making one of your own. Store-bought holders are made of wire mesh and come in a variety shapes and sizes. You can make your own by suspending the ball mixture in a mesh onion bag or rolling a pine cone in the suet mixture and covering in birdseed. Whichever method you choose, it will be a popular attraction.

Enjoy Watching

The wren is about five inches long with a short tail and chubby body. The male prepares several nesting sites before taking his mate to each. Once the female selects her home, she will begin adding her final touches of soft materials with which to lay her eggs. The male will establish several perches outside the home and make his presence known by singing from each perch. Given the fact these busy birds tolerate humans fairly well, providing local wrens with the food they love is sure to bring plenty of enjoyment to your home.

References

• Bird Houses 101: House Wren Feeding Preferences
• Bird Houses 101: Bird Feeders: Carolina Wren
• Yardner.com: Feeding The Wren
• Bird Watching: House Wren Habits