Bird guide · Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Cactus Wren
What the cactus wren eats, where it lives, when it comes to feeders and how to recognise it – with sightings from every US state.
- Season
- Year-round resident
- Size
- 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Feeds
- ground
- Most common
- Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Food
What do cactus wrens eat?
Curious; forages on the ground, lifting leaves and small rocks to look for food.
Feeder that suits it
A low tray or platform feeder, or seed scattered on the ground below your feeder.
Range
Where do cactus wrens live?
Deserts of the Southwest. By share of all bird sightings, cactus wrens are most common in Arizona (1.0%).
States where cactus wrens are most common
- Arizona1.0%
- New Mexico0.2%
- Texas0.08%
- Nevada0.05%
- California0.04%
- Utah0.03%
- Oklahoma0.00%
- Colorado0.00%
Share of all bird sightings in each state that are cactus wrens, 2019–2024.
Season
Does the cactus wren migrate?
Year-round resident. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in March.
Share of all bird sightings in the US that are cactus wrens, by month.
Identification
How to identify the cactus wren
Adults: Large wren, boldly barred, striped and spotted, with a sharp white eyebrow.
Young birds: Less spotting on the chest.
Size: 7.9 in (20 cm)
Easily confused with
- Sage Thrasher – less boldly marked
On camera
Getting the cactus wren on a feeder camera
Most visits happen on the ground or on low trays. A camera feeder with a wide tray, placed low near cover, catches far more than a hanging tube.
Questions
Cactus Wren: questions
Do cactus wrens migrate?
Year-round resident. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in March.
Where do cactus wrens live?
By share of all bird sightings, they are most common in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, California. They are rare or absent in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware.