Canyon Wren vs Grass Wren: How to Tell Them Apart

Canyon Wren

Catherpes mexicanus

Tiny12 gRocky

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,

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Ana Rebeca Martinez Martinez · Song · Santa María Coatlán, San Pablo Coatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico · CC0

Photo: S. King, US NPS · Public domain

Grass Wren

Cistothorus platensis

Tiny9 gGrassland

The grass wren is 10 to 10.5 cm (3.9 to 4.1 in) long. Its upperparts are buffy brown with black and buffy whitish streaks on the back. The wings and tail have dusky bands. Its underparts are mostly buffy. Voice: The grass wren's song is a "series of short,...high notes such as high rattles, sharp trills, sparrowlike 'tr-tr-tr-tr' and nasal 'zèzèzèzè'."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Duet · Zamora-Chinchipe: Quebrada Calderón, upper Río Isimanchi, Cordillera Las Lagunillas, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: US NPS, , cleaned up with Picasa by Big iron. · Public domain

Where you might meet both

United States Mexico Canada

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Canyon Wren and Grass Wren.