2024 split

House Wren split: ours is Northern House Wren

In 2024 House Wren became seven species. The House Wren of the US and Canada is now Northern House Wren; the others live from Mexico south and on Caribbean islands.

Updated

Small brown House Wrens at their nest in an old hat, one adult bringing food to the young
House Wrens nesting in an old hat, painted by John James Audubon. John James Audubon, The Birds of America (1840–44)

What changed

WasHouse Wren Troglodytes aedon
NowNorthern House Wren Troglodytes aedon

The House Wren of the US and Canada.

NowSouthern House Wren Troglodytes musculus

From southern Mexico through Central and South America.

Who decided, and when

  • American Ornithological Society (AOS): the 65th Supplement to its Check-list of North American birds
  • eBird and the Clements Checklist: its 2024 taxonomy update
  • AviList, the shared world checklist: agrees

Which one did you see?

Go by where you saw it. In the US and Canada, it's Northern House Wren.

Southern House Wren lives from southern Mexico through Central and South America. The other five new species each live on Caribbean islands, such as Cozumel, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada, and sound quite different from mainland birds.

What it does to your list

For birders in the US and Canada it's a new name only: your House Wren is now Northern House Wren.

If you have also seen house wrens in Central or South America, or on one of those islands, the split may add to your total.

Check your own list. Drop your eBird download or type your birds: the free checker shows which of them this and other recent changes touched.

Check my list