Cactus Wren

Cactus Wren

Taxobox
name = Cactus Wren
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Troglodytidae
genus = "Campylorhynchus"
species = "C. brunneicapillus"
binomial = "Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus"
binomial_authority = Lafresnaye, 1835
range_

range_map_width = 250px
range_map_caption = Distribution map of the Cactus Wren.

The Cactus Wren ("Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus") is the largest North American wren, and is 18-23 cm (7-9 inches) long.

Unlike the smaller wrens, the Cactus Wren is easily seen. It has the loud voice characteristic of wrens. The Cactus Wren is much less shy than most of the family. Its marked white eyestripe, brown head, barred wings and tail, and spotted tail feathers make it easy to identify. Like most birds in its genus, it has a slightly curved bill. There is little sexual dimorphism. The Cactus Wren primarily eats insects, including ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and wasps. Occasionally, it will take seeds and fruits. Foraging begins late in the morning and is versatile; the cactus wren will search under leaves and ground litter and overturn objects in search of insects, as well as feeding in the foliage and branches of larger vegetation. Increasing temperatures cause a shift in foraging behavior to shady and cooler microclimates, and activity slows during hot afternoon temperatures. Almost all water is obtained from food, and free standing water is rarely used even when found (Udvardy 1994; Ricklefs 1968; McCarthey 2000).

The Cactus Wren is native to the south-western United States southwards to central Mexico. It is a bird of arid regions, and is often found around yucca, mesquite or saguaro; it nests in cactus plants, sometimes in a hole in a saguaro, sometimes where its nest will be protected by the prickly cactus spines of a cholla or leaves of a yucca. It mainly eats insects, though it will occasionally take seeds or fruits. It rarely drinks water, getting its moisture from its food.

The Cactus Wren forms permanent pair bonds, and the pairs defend a territory where they live all through the year.

It is the state bird of Arizona.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
*ITIS|ID=178587|taxon=Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus|year=2006|date=9 February

External links

* [http://www.tolweb.org/movies/Certhioidea/67306 Cactus Wren videos] (Tree of Life)
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=5715 Cactus Wren videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/cactus_wren.htm Cactus Wren Photographs] South Dakota Birds and Birding
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/13501000.htm Stamps] (for Mexico, United States) with RangeMap
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=Cactus+Wren&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=25 Cactus Wren photos] VIREO


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cactus wren — Cactus Cac tus, n.; pl. E. {Cactuses}, {Cacti} ( t[=i]). [L., a kind of cactus, Gr. ??????.] (Bot.) Any plant of the order {Cactac[ae]}, as the prickly pear and the night blooming cereus. See {Cereus}. They usually have leafless stems and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cactus wren — noun large harsh voiced American wren of arid regions of the United States southwest and Mexico • Hypernyms: ↑wren, ↑jenny wren • Member Holonyms: ↑Campylorhynchus, ↑genus Campylorhynchus, ↑Heleodytes, ↑genus Heleodytes * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • cactus wren — tamsiakrūtė kaktusinė karietaitė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus angl. cactus wren vok. Kaktuszaunkönig, m rus. обыкновенный кактусовый крапивник, m pranc. troglodyte des cactus, m ryšiai:… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • cactus wren — noun Date: 1869 a large harsh voiced wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) especially of arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cactus wren — any American wren of the genus Campylorhynchus, of arid regions, esp. C. brunneicapillus, of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. [1865 70, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • Wren — (r[e^]n), n. [OE. wrenne, AS. wrenna, wr[ae]nna, perhaps akin to wr[=ae]ne lascivious.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small singing birds belonging to {Troglodytes} and numerous allied of the family {Troglodytid[ae]} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • Cactus — Cac tus, n.; pl. E. {Cactuses}, {Cacti} ( t[=i]). [L., a kind of cactus, Gr. ??????.] (Bot.) Any plant of the order {Cactac[ae]}, as the prickly pear and the night blooming cereus. See {Cereus}. They usually have leafless stems and branches,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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