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  Profile

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  In flight

Songbirds

Canyon Wren

Catherpes mexicanus

• rare
• 55 km/h
• Least Concern

Sings a cascade of clear whistles that bounce down red rock walls. The literal soundtrack of slot canyons.

Population

~1,000,000 mature individuals (stable, BirdLife/Partners in Flight 2019 estimate)

Habitat

Steep, dry rocky canyons, cliff faces, boulder piles, and rocky outcrops, mostly in arid landscapes; sometimes near rivers or on stone buildings

Fun fact

The Canyon Wren has a notably flattened skull with the vertebral column attached higher than in most birds, an adaptation thought to help it maneuver its head through narrow rock crevices while foraging.

Range

Western North America, year-round resident from southern British Columbia's Okanagan Valley through the western United States and Mexico, with an isolated population in the Black Hills (SD/WY/MT)

Diet

Insects and spiders, probed from rock crevices with its long slender bill; occasionally steals prey from spiderwebs and wasp nests; gets nearly all hydration from prey rather than drinking water

Size

0.13 m

Wingspan

0.19 m

Lifespan

5 years