When do wrens leave Washington?

Marsh Wrens never fully leave Washington: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early July, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.0% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see wrens in Washington?

The Marsh Wren is reported most often in late April, on about 11% of Washington checklists.

Which wrens are in Washington?

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

2 wren species in Washington

When Do Wrens Arrive in Washington?

Photo: Kathy Richardson, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Marsh Wrens and Northern House Wrens are the wrens you are most likely to see in Washington. Marsh Wrens are in Washington all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in late April (11% of checklists), and fall back by early July. In the quietest week (the second week of August) they are still on about 4.0% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 15-21mid March

PeakApr 22-30late April

Fall back byJul 1-7early July

FewestAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: late April. Here all year; numbers build from mid March and fall back by early July. Peak: on about 11% of Washington checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julcommon
Auguncommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Wrens in Washington, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Marsh Wren	Mar 15-21	Mar 15-21	Apr 22-30	Jul 1-7	11%
Northern House Wren	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	Jun 1-7	Jul 15-21	9.9%

Marsh Wren
Northern House 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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Marsh Wren

Share of checklists at the peak

Adams CountyBest mid May · 201 checklists that week, 4,574 in all28%
Grays Harbor CountyBest late April · 1596 checklists that week, 28,443 in all26%
Clark CountyBest late May · 1937 checklists that week, 53,250 in all21%
Wahkiakum CountyBest late April · 310 checklists that week, 5,618 in all20%
Garfield CountyBest the second week of November · 36 checklists that week, 1,130 in all20%
Skagit CountyBest mid May · 1702 checklists that week, 78,154 in all18%

All wrens in Washington

6 species are reported regularly: 2 stay all year, 3 are summer visitors, and 1 are winter visitors.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Bewick's Wren	Year-round	all year	Mar 22-31	23%
2	Pacific Wren	All year, most in winter	Oct 1-7	Nov 15-21	16%
3	Marsh Wren	All year, most in spring	Mar 15-21	Apr 22-30	11%
4	Northern House Wren	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	Jun 1-7	9.9%
5	Rock Wren	Summer visitor	Mar 15-21	Jun 1-7	1.4%
6	American Dipper	Year-round	all year	Oct 1-7	1.1%

Common questions

When do wrens arrive in Washington?: Marsh Wrens are in Washington all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in late April (11% of checklists), and fall back by early July. In the quietest week (the second week of August) they are still on about 4.0% of checklists.
When do wrens leave Washington?: Marsh Wrens never fully leave Washington: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early July, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.0% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see wrens in Washington?: The Marsh Wren is reported most often in late April, on about 11% of Washington checklists.
Which wrens are in Washington?: Marsh Wren and Northern House Wren are reported regularly; the Marsh Wren is the most common.