Arizona State Bird
Cactus Wren (common name)  Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus (scientific name) Overview The cactus— wren is a small bird with speckled brown, black, and white feathers on its back, wings, and head, and a buff belly with brown spots. It has long legs and a long, slightly curved bill. It was named the Arizona state bird in 1931 because there are more cactus wrens in Arizona than anywhere else in the country and because the cactus is an emblematic symbol of the state. The cactus wren primarily eats ants, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and wasps. Occasionally, it will also eat seeds, fruit, and small frogs or lizards. Its scientific name means "curved beak," and it uses its beak to uncover prey under leaves and ground cover. This very noisy bird will aggressively defend its nest by screeching at intruders. Pairs breed multiple times during the year; at some points, the male wren will care for the young in one nest while the female is incubating the next clutch of eggs in another. Close-up STATUS Official ALSO KNOWN AS Yucatan cactus wren, Yucatan wren PHYSICAL DETAILS  Male Female  Size Length to end of tail: 7.1-8.7 in (18-22 cm) Wing from flexure: 7-7.5 in (17.8-19.1 cm) Length of tail: 3 in (7.5 cm) Length to end of tail: 7.1-8.7 in (18-22 cm) Wing from flexure: 7-7.5 in (17.8-19.1 cm) Length of tail: 3 in (7.5 cm)  Weight 1.1-1.7 oz (30-48 g) 1-1.6 oz (32-47 g) BEHAVIOR The cactus wren is well adapted to desert climates. It is an active and inquisitive bird that forages for food very methodically, searching under leaves and other ground litter. HABITAT Arid brush, deserts, desert thickets, and areas with yucca, mesquite, and large cactuses, especially the cholla. Range: Southwestern U.S. (southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah) to the Yucatan in Central Mexico. Migration: Non-migratory Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC) NESTING Nesting Period: Early March-July Size of Clutch: 3-5 eggs Incubation Period: 6-8 days Egg Description: Dark rusty-brown crown Egg Size: 7-8.5 in (177-215 mm) SIMILAR SPECIES Sage thrasher TRIVIA It is easy to spot an area inhabited by cactus wren. Like other wrens, they build many "dummy" nests that serve as roosting places but are not used as nests. Nests are usually well guarded by sharp spines to protect them from predators.
	Click to enlarge an image Male Cactus Wren Female Cactus Wren Juvenile Cactus Wren Cactus Wren Distribution Map (pdf) CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae Genus: Campylorhynchus Species: C. brunneicapillus
	Author: World Trade Press