American State Birds - Click on a bird to learn more
 

Cactus Wren

State bird of: Arizona

Description

At about eight inches in length, the thrasher-like Cactus Wren is the largest North American wren. Both males and females have white bellies speckled with brown, black throats, white eyebrow stripes, and a reddish brown crown. The wings and back are brown, splattered with white and black feathers. The Cactus Wren has a long, curved bill.

Cactus Wrens nest in large cacti, thickets, or bushes. The bulky nest is shaped sort of like a football. The nest has a side entrance to protect the fledgling from predators. Females lay between three to six eggs. Young wrens hatch after two weeks and depend on their parents for food for an additional month.
 

Diet
The Cactus Wren eats grasshoppers, beetles, wasps, ants, seeds, and fruits. It will occasionally take small lizards. The Cactus Wren gets most of the water it needs from its prey.
 

Range and Habitat
Cactus Wrens are desert birds, found in arid regions with cacti large enough to support the weight of their large, bulky nests. The Cactus Wren breeds in desert regions of eastern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and throughout northern Mexico.

Status
The Cactus Wren is common.
 
Cactus Wren