top of page

The Arizona Wrens

Writer's picture: Rosy FinnRosy Finn

Updated: Nov 26, 2024

My first checklist reveal is a trio, three ambassadors for the three Arizona national parks. These parks have such iconic natural phenomena that each could be depicted on a postage stamp and most would have no issue identifying the park featured. Saguaro National Park and the saguaro cactus, Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon, and Petrified Forest National Park and the petrified logs. Just like it’s impossible to visit these parks and miss these natural phenomena it’s almost impossible to visit and not hear a wren of some species. Even more noteworthy than the general prevalence of wrens though is that each park is home to a wren that makes its home amongst these iconic features. The Cactus wren thrives amongst the saguaro cacti, the Canyon wren makes a living along the walls of the Grand Canyon and the Rock wren feels at home hunting among the rocky piles of petrified wood. Selecting these birds as park ambassadors was a given.


To a lot of people wrens are just LBBs, little brown birds. In the US we have the House wren, Rock wren, Marsh wren, Sedge wren, Cactus wren, Canyon wren, Winter wren, Pacific wren, Bewick’s wren, and Carolina wren. They all have a wren-like appearance to them with their cocked tails and long thin bills but they are a surprisingly diverse group. The family, named Troglodytidae, from the word troglodyte meaning cave-dweller, have a variety of less conventional nesting habits, but a number of members do literally live in rock crevices. For our three ambassadors their names give away that these are some of the habitat specialists of the group, part of what makes them great park ambassadors. They are all year-round residents of the Southwest and pay tribute to each park in their own way.


Petrified Forest National Park

For Petrified Forest NP, our park most famous for its rocks that aren’t really rocks, the Rock wren sees a massive hunting ground where most birds would see a dry, barren expanse. Well adapted to the Southwest our Rock wren doesn’t miss vegetation and it isn’t concerned about water, it wouldn’t even take a drink if it was available. Rock wrens get all the sustenance and water they need from insects, and thus, they have found a niche for themselves in rocky landscapes. Rock wrens are truly the Flintstones of birds, living in rock crevices and for reasons we do not yet understand they pave a little pathway or patio to their nest out of little flat rocks and pebbles. 


A Rock wren at Petrified Forest National Park


Grand Canyon National Park

Many birds are at home in and along canyons and thanks to Hollywood the most iconic is probably the Golden eagle or the California condor. These are great candidates but the real ambassadors to Southwest canyons, always welcoming, truly living out its life in the canyon, specially adapted for its features, and a major player in the soundtrack of a canyon, is the Canyon wren. Like the Rock wren the Canyon wren does not drink water and survives on insects. In order to live vertically it has long nails that help it grip the canyon wall and its spine is attached higher on its skulls so it can probe rock overhangs without bumping its head. As canyon ambasador though, its best qualification is that it has a beautiful descending call that sounds like it's falling off a cliff. Pay attention and you’ll realize how iconic this call is for the Grand Canyon.


A Canyon wren at Grand Canyon National Park Right: probing a crevice, head inverted

Center: probing a crevice, totally inver (on its back)


Saguaro National Park

The Cactus wren is another bird with an evocative desert call, its sound is reminiscent of a dry, midday heat. Highly adapted to the desert, the Cactus wren does not need to supplement its insect diet with water either, bathes itself in dust to stay clean of parasites, and nests in cacti. Unlike most birds, the Cactus wren uses its nests year round for roosting. A true devotee to the cactus, it spends most of its time sleeping, hunting, or singing in the magnificent cacti like those in Saguaro NP and it is almost impossible not to spot one atop a Saguaro cactus there. It’s no surprise that Arizona selected this desert icon as their state bird.


9 views

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


10_DSC08495-2.JPG

Join My Mailing List

Thanks for subscribing!

bottom of page