Scientifc Name: Catherpes mexicanus

Residency: Year-round resident throughout Arizona.

Diet: Insects and spiders. The Canyon Wren is not known to drink water; it is possible that it obtains all the water it needs from its insect prey.

Predators:  Potential predators include; snakes, corvids, hawks, and falcons.

Nesting: Male and female build nest of twigs and mosses inside narrow crevice of canyon, rock wall, boulder pile, or building. Nest is lined with spider?s silk, feathers, fur, webs, wool, lichens, plant down (soft plant material). May reuse nest from year to year. Lays 3-7 eggs (white with small, faint reddish-brown dots). One-two broods per year.

Nesting Records:

Notes: The Canyon Wren spends its entire life among rocks and cliffs, preferring steep-sided canyons. It can climb up, down, and across rocks. This bird has a unique anatomy, giving it a competitive advantage when foraging for food. Its vertebral column is attached higher on the skull than it is on most other bird species, and the skull is slightly flattened. These modifications allow the Canyon Wren to thrust its bill into tight crevices without bumping its head.