WRENS

Canyon Wren

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Catherpes mexicanus

The Canyon Wren is a small North American songbird of the wren family Troglodytidae. It is resident throughout its range and is generally found in arid, rocky cliffs, outcrops, and canyons.

Adults have brown chestnut plumage on upperparts, finely spotted with white. Underparts are rusty chestnut. The belly is chestnut with fine black and white spots. Rufous flanks are slightly barred with black. The rufous tail is finely barred with black. Chin, throat and upper breast are white.

Head is brownish-gray, with fine spots forehead, crown and nape. The lower face is white. Head is relatively small and flattened.

The long grayish bill is slender and decurved. Eyes are dark brown to black. Legs and large feet are blackish.

Both sexes are similar, with males slightly larger than females.

Juveniles resemble adults, but upperparts are more uniform than in adults, and flanks lack black bars.

The Canyon Wren is a small songbird, it is 4.3 - 5.9 inches long and 10 - 18 grams in weight.

CALL: A metallic buzz. 

SONG: Utters a loud silvery song, a decelerating series of liquid “tees” and “tews”, a strong series of whistles continuously descending in pitch. Their song is often heard in the canyons of western United States.

Feeds mainly on invertebrates, insects and spiders. It is not known to drink water. All its needs are probably got from its food.

Lives in canyons and cliffs, rocky areas and boulder piles, in arid regions. It is also found around buildings, especially those made of stones, but it prefers the base of a canyon wall. Can be found near water, although it doesn’t drink water.

Lives from southern British Columbia, throughout the United States, and southwards to Mexico.

Both male and female build a cup-shaped nest under a ledge, in order to protect it. The base is made with twigs, sticks, bark and grasses. It is lined with softer materials such as lichens, plant down, wool, feathers and fur. They frequently add some debris.

The female lays 4 - 7 white eggs, speckled with reddish-brown. Incubation lasts about 12 - 18 days, by the female being fed by the male.

SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.oiseaux-birds.com