Cactus Wren
ID 17091403 © Derrick Neill | Dreamstime.com

Located

The Cactus Wren can be found in various parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Nevada, southern California, southern Utah and down to central Mexico.

Diet

Cactus Wrens will feed on ants, beetles, wasps and other insects. They will also sometimes eat fruits and seeds. The Cactus Wren will turn over leaves and other objects on the ground to forage for food. The Cactus Wren needs very little water and can obtain much or all of its water from the food it eats.

Habitat

The Cactus Wren is found in arid deserts of the Southwestern United States and Mexico. Usually the wrens will build nests in the prickly spines of a cactus such as a cholla (see picture at right). The spines of the cactus aid in the defense of the wrens' nests.

Size

The average size of a Cactus Wren is about 8 inches.

Description

There is a white stripe that covers both eyes on males and females. The back is covered in spotted or streaked brown and white patches. Their beaks are long and slightly curved which enables them to turn over objects.

Reproduction

The Cactus Wren will lay between 3 - 6 eggs per clutch. Both males and females will assist in building the nest.