Species Name: Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

Length: 8.5 inches

Description: The largest of the wrens. Streaked brown above, pale whitish yellow to tan below. Buffy on flanks. Spotted breast, heaviest on adults sometimes forming solid black bib. Long brown tail barred with black; outer tail feathers marked with black and white. White stripe over eye. Bill longish and strongly de-curved.

Range: A bird of the desert southwest, occurring in the southwestern half of Texas, the southern half of New Mexico, the southern 2/3rds of Arizona, southern California, extending into parts of Nevada and Utah, and south through much of Mexico.

Behavior: A loud and active bird in desert areas, with a harsh, repetitive guttural call unlike other birds. Makes football-shaped nest in cholla cactus, saguaro, palo verde, or yucca, preferring security of cactus spines to protect nest. Make many nests in single territory, using some for roosting. Pair for life; maintain territory year round and do not migrate.

Actively searches out insects and edible seeds throughout territory, using long bill for probing much like thrashers. Does not have the habit of uplifted tail as other wrens do.

Related or Similar Species: Largest and most distinct of the US wrens: House, Winter, Carolina, Bewick's, Marsh, Sedge, Canyon, and Rock Wren.

Identification: Markings unmistakable. In size and shape more like a thrasher than the other wrens.

Advice on Finding and Photographing: Listen for distinctive calls in proper habitat in southwestern US, especially around cholla cactus and small bushes and mesquites. Inquisitive and can often be attracted by making noise. Easily attracted to meal worms.

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Richard Ditch been looking at birds and taking their photographs since the early 1970's, when he caught the "birding bug" from a friend at work. He was very active as a birder when he lived in New Jersey (1970-1994), maintaining lists of all the birds he saw each year in the state and elsewhere. Rich was a volunteer and field trip leader at the Owl Haven Nature Center (part of the New Jersey Audubon Society) and was a member of the Board of Directors for many years, along with being a frequent contributor to their quarterly magazine and to Records of New Jersey Birds. After moving to Phoenix, AZ in 1994 as a result of a job change, he found the birds to be a lot different and went through a rapid period of learning new species and new forms of species East. Richard is also a very active Member of our PhotoMigrations community and is a regular contributor to our forums. Please feel free to email him and be sure to visit his website located at: Birds in Nature - Images of Wild Birds.