
- Breeding and nesting. A wren next to a nest lined with feathers. While nesting in jumping cholla is preferred, this wren has chosen another, less spiny, species of cholla.
- Feeding. The cactus wren is primarily an insectivore, although it will also take seeds, fruits, nectar, and even small reptiles.
- Survival. Nests built in cactus provide a degree of protection to young; yet even in a cactus, young wrens are vulnerable to predation by coachwhip snakes.
What do cactus wrens eat in the desert?
Like other desert-dwelling birds such as the Bendire's Thrasher and Scaled Quail, the Cactus Wren gets almost all of its hydration from the food it eats. Individuals usually forage for food on the ground, probing under leaves and ground litter with their long, curved beaks in search of insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, and wasps.
How to attract wrens to bird feeders?
At feeders, these curious birds will sample mealworms, peanut butter, peanut hearts, and suet. Platform or tray feeders are best for offering these types of foods; peanut butter and suet can also be smeared directly on a tree trunk or branch for wrens. Multiple water sources will be more effective at attracting wrens than a single birdbath.
Is the cactus wren an endangered species?
The cactus wren is not currently listed as endangered or threatened. It is however, like all songbirds, protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The cactus wren eats many types of food often turning over rocks or other objects it finds on the ground in search of tasty morsels.
Do cactus wrens chase each other around?
Cactus Wrens are not shy, so with enough time in their habitat you will no doubt come across one or two chasing each other around. Cactus Wrens sometimes visit sunflower or suet feeders. Head over to Project FeederWatch to learn more about what types of feeders to use as well as what types of food are best.

What do cactus wren birds eat?
Habitat. Cactus Wrens live in scrubby areas in the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Mojave Deserts as well as in coastal sage scrub in California and thorn-scrub areas in Tamaulipas, Mexico. ... Food. Cactus Wrens eat mostly spiders and insects such as beetles, ants, wasps, grasshoppers, and butterflies. ... Behavior.
What do baby cactus wren eat?
Adults often feed their nestlings grasshoppers, being careful to pluck off the wings before stuffing the insect into the chicks' mouths. The parents need to pluck a lot of grasshopper wings; one nestling needs to eat at least 14 grasshoppers a day to meet its nutritional requirements.
How do you attract cactus wrens?
Suet, peanut butter, and shelled peanuts are other favorite treats, and they're best offered in shallow dishes or tray feeders for easy access. Planting native berry-producing shrubs will also give wrens an attractive winter food source long after most insects have vanished.
Do cactus wrens drink water?
Cactus Wrens rarely drink water. Instead they get all their liquids from juicy insects and fruit.
How do you keep baby wrens alive?
Put the baby bird back in the nest if it is uninjured. If the nest cannot be found, which is typical because wrens tend to hide their nests, put some newspaper in the bottom of a berry basket, and put the wren in the berry basket and hide it in dense shrubbery.
Can you keep a wren as a pet?
No, House Wrens do not make good pets. These little birds might be cute, but they do not do well in a household setting. These are wild birds, and they need plenty of space to fly and explore. In most places, it is illegal to own one as a pet.
What is the best food to feed wrens?
They like to eat peanut pieces, mealworms, suet blends, Bark Butter, and sunflower chips.
Do wrens eat peanut butter?
Peanut butter is a good high-protein food for birds, and they can eat any of the same types humans do.
What seed do wrens eat?
Although sunflower seeds might attract more colorful birds, Carolina Wrens generally prefer suet and peanuts.
How long do cactus wren live?
7-10 years oldIn the wild cactus wrens can live to be 7-10 years old. This is a large member of the wren family being 7-8 inches in length.
Do cactus wren eat insects?
Food Habits The Cactus Wren primarily eats insects, including ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and wasps.
Do cactus wrens sing?
The raspy, harsh, loud series of harsh "char" notes, increases slightly in volume and pitch, and the sound carries through the heat of the desert, as far as 1,000 feet away. Females also sing, although their weaker and higher-pitched song is rarely heard.
What do baby cactus wrens look like?
They have pale cinnamon sides and a white chest with dark speckles. The back is brown with heavy white streaks, and the tail is barred white and black—especially noticeable from below. Males and females look alike, but juveniles are slightly paler and have a brown eye.
How does the cactus wren protect itself?
Cactus Wrens usually build their nests in cholla cactus or thorny trees to protect themselves and their young from predators. Their nests serve as a home for year-round protection from the cold, the rain, and nighttime enemies.
Do cactus wren eat insects?
Food Habits The Cactus Wren primarily eats insects, including ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and wasps.
What is special about wrens?
Amazing Facts About the Wren The wren is easily recognized by its upward pointing tail and darting flight. The wren is a difficult bird to spot due to its brown colouring and small size. They are also shy and secretive by nature. The best way to find one is listening to its loud musical trills and scolding clicks.
How Do I Know When To Feed Cactus Plants?
Cactus plants really don’t require a ton of water or fertilizer (they do require a lot of bright light).
What is the best environment for cacti?
The classic perception of the perfect environment for cacti is a harsh, dry desert with two extremes: periods of no rainfall whatsoever or sudden deluges that the plant must absorb, store and use throughout the next dry spell.
How often should I fertilize cactus?
At a minimum, fertilizing cactus plants once a year is a good rule of thumb, but if you’re really organized and can set up a schedule, feeding them 2-3 times per year in the spring, summer, and fall will easily satisfy your cacti fertilizer requirements. Cactus plants need fertilizer during their active growing periods more than at any other time.
Can you overfeed a cactus?
Finally, remember one of the “golden rules of growing” as you plan to care for your cactus plants: never overfeed! Overfeeding is as dangerous to your cactus plants as overwatering is to any plant. Being careful not to overfeed is just as important as knowing when to feed cactus plants and how to fertilize a cactus.
Where do cactus wrens get their liquids from?
Instead they get all their liquids from juicy insects and fruit. The Cactus Wren is the state bird of Arizona. The oldest recorded Cactus Wren was a male, and at least 8 years, 1 month old when it was identified in California by a leg band in 2013. It had been banded in the same state in 2006.
What is the noise of a cactus wren?
No bird exemplifies Southwestern deserts better than the noisy Cactus Wren. At all hours of the day they utter a raw scratchy noise that sounds like they are trying to start a car. Cactus Wrens are always up to something, whether hopping around on the ground, fanning their tails, scolding their neighbors, or singing from the tops of cacti.
How long does it take for a cactus wren to build a nest?
They imitate their parents by picking up nesting material as soon as 12 days after leaving the nest, but they don’t actually build their own nest until they’ve been out of the nest for about 63 days.
Why do cactus wrens take a dust bath?
Several species also take dust baths to help reduce feather parasites and keep feathers looking good.
How many grasshoppers do you need to feed a baby?
The parents need to pluck a lot of grasshopper wings; one nestling needs to eat at least 14 grasshoppers a day to meet its nutritional requirements.
Do cactus wrens visit sunflowers?
Cactus Wrens sometimes visit sunflower or suet feeders. Head over to Project FeederWatch to learn more about what types of feeders to use as well as what types of food are best. Cactus Wrens are fairly adaptable birds and will visit or maybe even nest in your yard if you have a few cactus or other desert plants.
Do cactus wrens chase each other?
Cactus Wrens are not shy, so with enough time in their habitat you will no doubt come across one or two chasing each other around. Cactus Wrens sometimes visit sunflower or suet feeders. Head over to Project FeederWatch to learn more about what types of feeders to use as well as what types of food are best.
Where do cactus wrens live?
The cactus wren ( Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) is a species of wren endemic to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico . It is the state bird of Arizona, and the largest wren in the United States. Its plumage is brown, with black and white spots as markings. It has a distinctive white eyebrow that sweeps to the nape of the neck. The chest is white, whereas the underparts are cinnamon - buff colored. Both sexes appear similar. The tail, as well as flight feathers, are barred in black and white. Their song is a loud raspy chirrup; akin in the description of some ornithologists to the sound of a car engine that will not start. It is well-adapted to its native desert environment, and the birds can meet their water needs from their diet which consists chiefly of insects, but also of some plant matter. The cactus wren is a poor flier and generally forages for food on the ground. Ornithologists generally recognize seven subspecies, with the exact taxonomy under dispute.
Why are cactus wrens declining?
Populations have declined as the species faces threats related to human activities and habitat loss, although the species remains abundant. Habitat fragmentation and fire have been of particular concern , as the cactus wren is slow to disperse into new habitats. Introduced species have also hurt populations.
How long does a cactus wren call?
Each part of the call lasts around four seconds, with four to eight seconds between calls; calls can carry up to 300 metres (1,000 ft).
How do cactus get their name?
Its common name derives from their frequenting desert cactus plants such as the saguaro and cholla, building nests, roosting, and seeking protection from predators among them. Its bulky and globular nests are constructed of plant material and lined with feathers. They do not migrate; instead, they establish and defend the territories around their nests where they live all year-round. It lives in pairs, or as family groups from late spring through winter. Pairing among cactus wrens is monogamous; in each breeding season, the males chiefly build nests, the females incubate eggs, and both parents feed the young.
What is a wren?
The wren family is a group of generally small passerine birds, found – with one exception – only in the New World. Although the cactus wren is the largest wren in the U.S., globally the title is shared between the giant wren and the bicolored wren. It was historically considered conspecific (of the same species) with the Yucatan wren and Boucard's wren, but there are numerous morphological and behavioral differences between the species. A 2007 genetic study by Barker indicated that all three were distinct species. Work on wren taxonomy in the 20th century postulated that the Yucatan, Boucard's, and cactus wrens – along with the spotted wren – might constitute a superspecies. The 2007 study showed this to be unlikely, as the cactus wren was found to be ancestral to the other species. Study of the evolution of the cactus wren suggests that it evolved in central Mexico about one million years ago and quickly spread to its modern range.
How many flight feathers does a cactus wren have?
The cactus wren's ten primary and nine secondary flight feathers are barred, alternating between black and off-white. Its twelve rectrices are barred, alternating between brownish-black and pale gray-brown. The outer rectrices are white tipped. When flying, a white band can be seen on the underside of the tail feathers. The tail is barred in alternating stripes of black, white, and brown. The legs are brown to pink-brown.
How big is a cactus wren?
The cactus wren is the largest wren in the United States. It is between 18 and 19 cm (7.1 and 7.5 in) long, and weighs between 33.4 and 46.9 g (1.18 and 1.65 oz), with an average of 38.9 g (1.37 oz).:207 . It has a thick, heavy bill that is dull black, curves slightly downwards, and is about the same length as the head.
What do cactus wrens eat?
The cactus wren eats many types of food often turning over rocks or other objects it finds on the ground in search of tasty morsels. Fruit pulp, seeds, ants, grasshoppers, beetles, and other arthropods make up its diet. Predators.
How old do cactus wrens live?
In the wild cactus wrens can live to be 7-10 years old.
Where do cactus wrens build their nests?
They will build this nest (and many others) usually in cholla, but also in palo verde, acacias, saguaros, or the hanging pot in your backyard.
Where do wrens nest?
The wrens also use these nest throughout the year as places to roost. They are found in deserts and arid foothills that have cactus, mesquite, yucca and other types of desert scrub. The cactus wren can be found in Arizona, southern California, southern Nevada, western Texas, southwest Utah, and north-central Mexico.
Do wrens build nests?
While the female is incubating on clutch of eggs, the male wren builds another nest. This nest will be used or a second clutch of eggs as the parents may rear several broods of young in one year. Building the nest in cactus provides some amount of protection for the young. The wrens also use these nest throughout the year as places to roost.
How do cactus wrens get their hydration?
Like other desert-dwelling birds such as the Bendire's Thrasher and Scaled Quail, the Cactus Wren gets almost all of its hydration from the food it eats . Individuals usually forage for food on the ground, probing under leaves and ground litter with their long, curved beaks in search of insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, and wasps. They also consume fruit, seeds, and even small lizards.
How do cactus wrens deal with scorching?
These resourceful birds deal with their scorching surroundings by changing their feeding behavior as temperatures climb throughout the day. On cooler mornings, Cactus Wrens forage on the ground in the open. As temperatures rise, they shift their feeding to shady, cooler areas under cover, including in large, thorny shrubs and cacti. During particularly hot afternoons, the birds take a break to rest in the shade.
What is the name of the cactus wren?
The Cactus Wren's genus name Campylorhynchus derives from the Greek words for "curved beak.". Its species name brunneicapillus is formed from the Latin words for "brown" and "hair," referring to this bird's brown cap and back.
What is the largest wren in the US?
Cactus Wren. The Cactus Wren is the largest wren found in the United States — about the size of a Spotted Towhee. Its curious nature and loud, chattering calls make this bird one of the most well-known species of the southwestern desert. The Cactus Wren's genus name Campylorhynchus derives from the Greek words for "curved beak.".
What is the purpose of the long narrow entryway for a cactus wren?
Cactus Wren at its nest entrance. The long, narrow entryway helps to deter predators from approaching the nest chamber. Photo by BigWheel55/Wikimedia Commons
Why are cactus wrens endangered?
Some coastal populations in southern California are particularly threatened because widespread development has isolated populations within separate “islands” of habitat.
Do cactus wrens have nests?
By using cholla and saguaro cacti as nesting sites, the Cactus Wren benefits from spiky protection from potential nest predators, particularly snakes. The wren's bulky, football-shaped nest provides additional protection, with a narrow, tube-like side entrance that limits access to the nest chamber. Interestingly, the nest entrance is often oriented to take advantage of the cooling effects of prevailing winds.
What do wrens eat?
Wrens eat insects and spiders. Where I have seen the wren eat food is to take a green larva from one of the shrubs in the garden. It took it to a fence post, bashed it around, then ate it. I’ve planted a number of perennial plants last year. To help wildlife in the garden. When I see a bird take natural food from the garden it make me more happy than any supplemental feeding.
How much does a wren weigh?
I see a wren in the garden maybe once a week. I think it’s probably a more frequent visitor. However, the wren’s a small bird that weighs about 10g. It’s brown too, making it well camouflaged to the hedgerow environment it likes to inhabit. When it’s seen, I think it’s fairly easy to recognise. To me, it’s body shape and upright tail distinguish it.
Do wrens hunt in the ground?
Wrens remain close to the ground to hunt. Like the dunnocks I see in the garden they prefer to remain in the close vicinity of vegetation. Like the dunnocks they appear to have a meticulous pattern for foraging. Going from shrub to shrub, and I’ve seen them complete a circle of the garden’s herbaceous border.
Is a wren sedentary?
British wrens are largely sedentary. However there are exceptions to the rule and wrens from Scandanavia and Russia have been known to make British shores 4.
Do wrens eat bird food?
This is common and wrens are rarely seen taking supplementary bird food.
What do wrens eat in feeders?
At feeders, these curious birds will sample mealworms, peanut butter, peanut hearts, and suet. Platform or tray feeders are best for offering these types of foods; peanut butter and suet can also be smeared directly on a tree trunk or branch for wrens.
Where to offer food and water to wrens?
Offer both food and water in several areas close to dense cover, where wrens and other shy birds will lurk so they can feel safer about visiting.
How big of a hole do wrens need to nest?
Some species will readily use birdhouses with a 1-to-2-inch entrance hole, though they are not generally picky about the overall house shape. Providing nesting material such as feathers, moss, small twigs, and grass clippings can also encourage wrens to nest nearby.
What are the wrens in the US?
In North America, the house wren, Carolina wren, Bewick's wren, and cactus wren all make regular appearances in bird-friendly yards in their respective ranges. Similarly, the winter wren is a common garden visitor in Europe and Asia.
What to upcycle for birdhouses?
Upcycle items for rustic birdhouses, such as a teapot or coffee can, to attract the attention of inquisitive nesting wrens.
Where do wrens nest?
Wrens are well known for nesting in unusual places, including hanging flower pots, cluttered garage shelves, or outdoor wreaths. Leaving these creative places intact can help attract nesting wrens to your yard. Some species will readily use birdhouses with a 1-to-2-inch entrance hole, though they are not generally picky about the overall house shape.
Do wrens like to flit around the yard?
Wrens can be shy and wary at first, but once they realize an area meets their needs and is a safe sanctuary, they will quickly become used to flitting about the yard at ease. In time, a wren-friendly yard will give birders great views and a wonderful opportunity to learn more about these perky birds.

Overview
Behavior and ecology
Cactus wrens generally feed and live in pairs, or in family groups from late spring through winter. Flocks of cactus wrens have been reported, but seem to be extremely rare. Flocking has been observed only in areas of abundant forage and does not last longer than a few hours. As ground feeders, they spend much of their time on the ground and are not strong fliers, with any flights being som…
Taxonomy and systematics
The wren family is a group of generally small passerine birds, found – with one exception – only in the New World. Although the cactus wren is the largest wren in the U.S., globally the title is shared between the giant wren and the bicolored wren. It was historically considered conspecific (of the same species) with the Yucatan wren and Boucard's wren, but there are numerous morphological and behavioral differences between the species. A 2007 genetic study by Barker indicated that a…
Description
The cactus wren is the largest wren in the United States. It is between 18 and 19 cm (7.1 and 7.5 in) long, and weighs between 33.4 and 46.9 g (1.18 and 1.65 oz), with an average of 38.9 g (1.37 oz). It has a thick, heavy bill that is dull black, curves slightly downwards, and is about the same length as the head. The lower mandible is grayish and pale, and the tail is long and rounded.
Distribution and habitat
The cactus wren is a bird of arid and semi-desert regions, and generally requires spiny cacti to nest in. Its range includes the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. The cactus wren is not migratory, and establishes a permanent territory which it defends vigorously. Territories are typically 1.3 ha (3.2 acres) to 1.9 ha (4.7 acres). The size and shape of territories change very little throughout the seas…
Relationship to humans
The cactus wren is the state bird of Arizona, so designated on 16 March 1931 by the Arizona State Legislature in House Bill 128. The bill specifically designates the subspecies C. b. couesi as the state bird, and refers to the bird as both the "Cactus Wren" and "Coues' Cactus Wren". The subspecies' namesake, Elliot Coues, served as a surgeon at Fort Whipple in Arizona from 1864 until at least 1871, and again in 1880, and was involved in nature surveys of the Arizona Territory.
Status
The cactus wren is abundant in most of its native range, although its numbers may be declining in Texas and southern California. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies its population as "decreasing", but ranks the species's conservation status as least concern. Current population estimates put the species at about seven million individuals, with slightly more than half in Mexico, and the balance in the United States. Populations declined by 55% between 1966 …
Further reading
• Anderson, A. H.; Anderson, A. (1957). "Life history of the cactus wren. Part I: Winter and pre-nesting behavior" (PDF). The Condor. 59 (5): 274–296. doi:10.2307/1364964. JSTOR 1364964.
• Anderson, A. H.; Anderson, A. (1959). "Life history of the cactus wren. Part II: The beginning of nesting" (PDF). The Condor. 61 (3): 186–205. doi:10.2307/1365535. JSTOR 1365535.