When do wrens leave Colorado?

Most Northern House Wrens have left Colorado by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.

When is the best time to see wrens in Colorado?

The Northern House Wren is reported most often in mid May, on about 36% of Colorado checklists.

Which wrens are in Colorado?

Northern House Wren and Marsh Wren are reported regularly; the Northern House Wren is the most common.

2 wren species in Colorado

When Do Wrens Arrive in Colorado?

Northern House Wrens reach Colorado in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (36% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September. They are by far the most reported wrens in Colorado.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April

Common byApr 22-30late April

PeakMay 15-21mid May

Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 36% of Colorado checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octrare
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Wrens in Colorado, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Northern House Wren	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	May 15-21	Sep 8-14	36%
Marsh Wren	Feb 22-28	Mar 1-7	Apr 15-21	Jan 1-7	1.8%

Northern House Wren
Marsh Wren

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Colorado that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Colorado

Best counties for Northern House Wren

Share of checklists at the peak

Yuma CountyBest the second week of May · 121 checklists that week, 3,844 in all59%
Jefferson CountyBest late June · 4126 checklists that week, 183,749 in all54%
Logan CountyBest mid May · 148 checklists that week, 4,117 in all52%
Douglas CountyBest mid June · 1047 checklists that week, 60,057 in all51%
Boulder CountyBest late May · 6529 checklists that week, 180,634 in all47%
Washington CountyBest the second week of July · 12 checklists that week, 2,511 in all46%

All wrens in Colorado

6 species are reported regularly: 5 are summer visitors and 1 are winter visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Northern House Wren	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	May 15-21	36%
2	Rock Wren	Summer visitor	Apr 8-14	Sep 15-21	3.6%
3	American Dipper	Winter visitor	Sep 15-21	Jan 8-14	3.1%
4	Marsh Wren	Summer visitor	Feb 22-28	Apr 15-21	1.8%
5	Canyon Wren	Summer visitor	Feb 22-28	Aug 1-7	1.5%
6	Bewick's Wren	Summer visitor	Feb 22-28	May 22-31	1.1%

Common questions

When do wrens arrive in Colorado?: Northern House Wrens reach Colorado in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (36% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September. They are by far the most reported wrens in Colorado.
When do wrens leave Colorado?: Most Northern House Wrens have left Colorado by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see wrens in Colorado?: The Northern House Wren is reported most often in mid May, on about 36% of Colorado checklists.
Which wrens are in Colorado?: Northern House Wren and Marsh Wren are reported regularly; the Northern House Wren is the most common.