When do wrens leave New Hampshire?

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

When is the best time to see wrens in New Hampshire?

The Northern House Wren is reported most often in mid May, on about 21% of New Hampshire checklists.

Which wrens are in New Hampshire?

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

4 wren species in New Hampshire

When Do Wrens Arrive in New Hampshire?

Northern House Wrens, Carolina Wrens, and Winter Wrens are the wrens you are most likely to see in New Hampshire. Northern House Wrens reach New Hampshire in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (21% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April

Common byApr 22-30late April

PeakMay 15-21mid May

Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 21% of New Hampshire checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Wrens in New Hampshire, 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 22-30	21%
Carolina Wren	all year	–	Feb 8-14	–	12%
Winter Wren	Mar 22-31	Apr 8-14	Jun 22-30	Aug 1-7	11%
Marsh Wren	Apr 22-30	Apr 22-30	Jul 15-21	Aug 1-7	1.8%

Northern House Wren
Carolina Wren
Winter 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire

Best counties for Northern House Wren

Share of checklists at the peak

Strafford CountyBest late May · 1542 checklists that week, 41,888 in all36%
Cheshire CountyBest early July · 786 checklists that week, 39,834 in all25%
Merrimack CountyBest mid May · 1207 checklists that week, 36,980 in all22%
Hillsborough CountyBest early June · 984 checklists that week, 50,125 in all21%
Belknap CountyBest mid May · 411 checklists that week, 13,295 in all20%
Carroll CountyBest mid May · 1139 checklists that week, 30,580 in all20%

All wrens in New Hampshire

4 species are reported regularly: 1 stay all year and 3 are summer visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Northern House Wren	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	May 15-21	21%
2	Carolina Wren	Year-round	all year	Feb 8-14	12%
3	Winter Wren	Summer visitor	Mar 22-31	Jun 22-30	11%
4	Marsh Wren	Summer visitor	Apr 22-30	Jul 15-21	1.8%

Common questions

When do wrens arrive in New Hampshire?: Northern House Wrens reach New Hampshire in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (21% of checklists), and most are gone by late September.
When do wrens leave New Hampshire?: Most Northern House Wrens have left New Hampshire by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see wrens in New Hampshire?: The Northern House Wren is reported most often in mid May, on about 21% of New Hampshire checklists.
Which wrens are in New Hampshire?: Northern House Wren, Carolina Wren, Winter Wren, and Marsh Wren are reported regularly; the Northern House Wren is the most common.