Nesting House Wren Photos

House Wren with prey in a serviceberry shrub – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Had it not been for my keen eyesight and a little bit of movement in a serviceberry shrub I would have missed out on taking nesting House Wren photos yesterday. I was high in the Wasatch Mountains enjoying the cooler temps and looking for birds from the road when I saw the shape of a wren in the shrub. When I could see that it was a House Wren I was elated because so far this year I had only heard one of these wrens singing in the Wasatch range and had been concerned about them.

Moments later the wren had moved to the other side of the shrub and I could see that there were two of them. Through the leaves and branches it appeared to me that the wrens were mating. One of the House Wrens took off and the other flew to a rusty metal pipe next to the road and entered it.

Bingo. I found where the wrens are nesting.

House Wren on a rusty pipe with prey – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

When the wren that flew off came back it brought prey with it and landed on the rusty metal pipe and then took the prey into the nest inside the pipe.

House Wren nesting in a rusty pipe – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I believe that it fed the wren that was on the nest the prey. I also believe that makes this the male of the nesting pair of House Wrens.

House Wren on a sagebrush stump – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

After taking the prey, which I think was a spider, to the wren in the nest this House Wren landed on a sagebrush stump that was close to the edge of the road where I had great views of it.

House Wren singing from a serviceberry perch – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Then the wren, presumably the male, flew to the top of the serviceberry shrub where he sang, preened, sang, and preened some more.

It was during this singing and preening session that my Nikon D500 decided to act up again so I switched camera bodies and started using my Nikon D810.

Adult House Wren looking up at the sky – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The presumed female House Wren exited the nest in the rusty metal pipe and flew to the serviceberry shrub then back to the metal structure that the nest was in.

Adult House Wren on a rusty metal pipe – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

She hopped along the metal structure and looked around the area where her nest was located which gave me time to focus entirely on her since the male was out of my sight.

Adult House Wren at the nest entrance – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

And then she entered the nest in the rusty metal pipe again.

I took so many photos of the nesting House Wrens that I just grabbed a few to share today. I hope to share more of them in the future.

If I had been looking another direction, glanced at my phone screen, or had been distracted by something I would not have had the opportunity to photograph these wrens which is yet another reason why I pay attention all the time when I am in the field.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my House Wren photos plus facts and information about this species.