Cactus Wren

desert bird · Arizona · tough survivor

Desert champion. The cactus wren lives in the hot, dry deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico, and it's the biggest wren you'll find anywhere in America.

Raspy loud song. Instead of a pretty chirp, this bird makes a loud, scratchy sound that ornithologists say sounds like a car engine trying to start but failing every time.

Spotted brown plumage. You can spot a cactus wren by its brown feathers covered with black and white spots, a white stripe above its eye, and a cinnamon-colored belly.

Built for drought. The cactus wren is perfectly adapted to desert life and doesn't need to drink water separately because it gets all the moisture it needs from eating insects.

Ground forager. Unlike many birds that soar through the sky, the cactus wren is a poor flier and spends most of its time walking on the ground searching for insects and plants to eat.