Rock Wren

About the Rock Wren

The rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) is a small songbird of the wren family native to the rocky areas of western North America. There are 8 subspecies of the rock wren, one of which is extinct. They are similar in size to other wrens, with a grey-brown coat, a brown rump, and a speckled white throat. They are visually similar to the canyon wren, which they share a habitat with. They are noted for their variable song and song pattern, used for territory defense, as well as their habit of building "pavements" with flat rocks around their nest to help nestlings stay dry. Rock wrens are serially monogamous, forming pairs for nesting season. Nestbuilding usually begins in March, usually in crevices, and the first brood are laid late April to June, with a possible second brood later in June.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name

Salpinctes obsoletus

Family

Wrens

Order

Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the wrens family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

• Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus
• Banded Wren Thryophilus pleurostictus
• Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii
• Boucard's Wren Campylorhynchus jocosus
• Cabanis's Wren Cantorchilus modestus
• Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
• Canyon Wren Catherpes mexicanus
• Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
• Clarion Wren Troglodytes tanneri
• Cozumel Wren Troglodytes beani
• Giant Wren Campylorhynchus chiapensis
• Grass Wren Cistothorus platensis