Canyon Wren

Catherpes mexicanus

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesRockyCavity nestTiny · 12 g

What the Canyon Wren sounds like

Sonogram of the Canyon Wren: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Ana Rebeca Martinez Martinez · Song · Santa María Coatlán, San Pablo Coatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Canyon Wren: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Ana Rebeca Martinez Martinez · Call · Santa María Coatlán, San Pablo Coatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico · CC0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The canyon wren measures 14–15 cm (5.5–5.9 in) with a long thin beak and square-tipped tail. Its speckled, chestnut coloration shades to gray at the head with a contrasting white throat patch. Its coloration and small size allow it to camouflage seamlessly with its rocky environment. The canyon wren's loud, distinctive call consists of a series of cascading notes. It sings most frequently in spring, however mated pairs may sing at any time. When defending its territory, the song is harsher and has a lower frequency,

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Canyon Wren

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Canyon Wren

Regular range

The map shades 3 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the Canyon Wren

The canyon wren is a small North American songbird of the wren family Troglodytidae. A non-migratory species, these birds are found throughout western North America in dry, rocky environments such as cliffs, outcrops, and canyons. It is a small bird that is hard to see on its rocky habitat, and is often located by its loud distinctive song. It is currently in a monotypic taxon and is the only species in the genus Catherpes.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Canyon Wren vs Rock Wren · Canyon Wren vs Grass Wren · Canyon Wren vs Grey-breasted Wood Wren

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