Cactus wren

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Cactus wren
Cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

Cactus wren ( Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus )

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Superfamily : Certhioidea
Family : Wrens (Troglodytidae)
Genre : Campylorhynchus
Type : Cactus wren
Scientific name
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
( Lafresnaye , 1835)

The Cactus Wren ( Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus ) is in the southwestern United States and Mexico occurring type of the bird family of wrens (Troglodytidae). It is the state bird of the US state Arizona .

description

Appearance

With a total length of 18 to 22 centimeters, the cactus wren is one of the largest representatives of the wren. The tail is usually raised. The pointed, slightly curved beak is colored black-brown in the upper part and yellowish in the lower part. The iris of the eye is black-brown. In adult animals, the skull is red-brown to hazel-brown in color with a clear white stripe above the eyes . The chin is whitish, the throat blackish. The chest and abdomen are cream-colored to light orange-yellow and patterned with black-brown spots. The rest of the plumage is brownish and covered with many irregularly distributed white spots. The wingspan is 20 to 30 centimeters, the weight 32 to 47 grams. There is no sexual dimorphism . The young birds are similar to the adults, but are a little paler in color.

Voice and singing

The singing of the cactus wren consists of a sequence of mostly very loud, rough, croaking or rasping sounds that increase in intensity and pitch as the song progresses.

distribution and habitat

Distribution area

The cactus wren occurs in southern California and Nevada , in Arizona, New Mexico , western Texas , Utah and northern Mexico. The main habitat is desert areas overgrown with cacti . It can also be found on the outskirts of housing estates. The maximum elevation distribution in New Mexico is 6000 ft (about 1800 meters).

Way of life

The birds stay individually or in small groups when foraging for food, preferably on the ground or in low vegetation, where they feed primarily on various types of insects and arachnids, as well as on berries and seeds . Sometimes small lizards are also captured. The fruits of cacti and nectar occasionally expand the food spectrum. An additional intake of water is not necessary. Cactus wrens have also been seen raiding the nests of other bird species. Males and females inhabit a permanent territory all year round, usually stay together for life and breed several times a year. The life expectancy of birds is seven to ten years. The adult cactus wrens are particularly threatened by predators . The soil enemies include coyotes , foxes , lynxes and cats .

Reproduction

Nest building

Males and females take part in nest building together. A nest is created for the rearing of the young and another for the adult birds to rest. The male builds these nests. All nests are preferably inserted in Cylindropuntia cacti at heights of up to three meters. Nesting caves in saguaro cacti are rarer . The nests have a spherical shape with an entrance on the side. The nesting material is dry twigs, withered grass, feathers and animal hair.

Brood and young rearing

As a rule, three to four eggs are laid per brood, which the female hatches alone. The eggs are whitish to pale pink in color and show some brownish spots. The breeding season is 16 days. The common coachman whip snake ( Coluber flagellum ) in particular can be dangerous to eggs and young birds from nest robbers . After hatching, the nestlings are provided with food by both parents. They leave the nest after 19 to 23 days and remain in their parents' territory for some time.

  • Young bird

  • Nest in Cylindropuntia

  • Adult bird

Danger

The cactus wren is not uncommon in its areas of distribution and is therefore classified by the IUCN as a LC IUCN 3 1st svg“ least concern ”. It is protected by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act .

Subspecies

The following subspecies are distinguished:

  • Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis Rea , 1986 - This subspecies occurs in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California .
  • Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus bryanti ( Anthony , 1894) - This subspecies is common in northern Baja California.
  • Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus affinis Xántus de Vésey , 1860 - This subspecies occurs in southern Baja California.
  • Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus seri ( van Rossem , 1932) - This subspecies is common on the Isla Tiburón .
  • Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus couesi Sharpe , 1882 - This subspecies occurs in the interior of the southwest and central south of the United States, as well as in northern Mexico .
  • Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus brunneicapillus ( Lafresnaye , 1835) - The nominate form occurs from Sonora to Sinaloa .
  • Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus guttatus ( Gould , 1837) - This subspecies is common in central Mexico.

Etymology and history of research

The first description of the cactus wren was in 1835 by Frédéric de Lafresnaye under the scientific name Picolaptes brunneicapillus . The type specimen was in the collection of Charles Brelay (1791-1857), who suspected that it came from California. In 1824 Johann Baptist von Spix introduced the genus Campylorhynchus, which was new to science . This name is derived from »campylos, camptō καμπυλος, καμπτω « for »bent, bend« and »rhynkhos ῥυγχος « for »beak«. The species name "brunneicapillus" is the Latin word structure from "brunneus, brunius" for "brown" and "-capillus, capillus" for "-crowned, head of hair". "Bryanti" is dedicated to Walter E. Bryant (1861–1905) and "couesi" to  Elliott Coues . »Seri« refers to the Seri people who once lived on Isla Tiburón . "Guttatus" means "speckled" from "gutta" for "spot". "Sandiegensis" refers to San Diego . “Affinis” has its origin in “ad” for “to, to” and “finis” for “end, limit”, so that it can be translated as “neighbor, relative, affinity”.

literature

  • Alfred Webster Anthony: Notes on the Genus Heleodytes, with a Description of a New Subspecies . In: The Auk . tape 11 , no. 3 , 1894, pp. 210–214 (English, sora.unm.edu [PDF; 219 kB ]).
  • John Gould: Mr. Gould exhibited several specimen and drawings of Birds allied to the well-known Wren of Europe; and, at the request of the Chairman, proceeded to comment upon, and characterize the undescribed species as follows . In: Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London . tape 4 , no. 304 , August 1836, p. 88-89 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
  • James A. Jobling: Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm, London 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4 .
  • Frédéric de Lafresnaye: Major le genre Grimpec (Picolaptes, Lesson) . In: Magasin de zoologie . tape 5 , 1835, pp. 1-6 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
  • Amadeo Michael Rea in Allan Robert Phillips: The known birds of North and Middle America. Distributions and Variation, Migrations, Changes, Hybrids, etc. Band 1 : Hirundinidae to Mimidae; Certhiidae . Roberts Rinehart Publisher, Denver 1986, ISBN 978-0-9617402-0-7 .
  • Adriaan Joseph van Rossem: The Avifauna of Tiburon Island, Sonora, Mexico, with description of four new races . In: Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History . tape 7 , no. 30 , 1932, pp. 119-150 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
  • Richard Bowdler Sharpe: Catalog of the Birds in the British Museum . tape 6 . Order of the Trustees, London 1881 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
  • Johann Baptist von Spix: Avium species novae, quas in itinere per Brasiliam Annis MDCCCXVII - MDCCCXX Iussu et Auspiciis Maximiliani Josephi I. Bavariae Regis suscepto collegit et descripsit. tape 1 . Typis Franc. Seraph. Hübschmännl, Munich 1824 ( archive.org ).
  • János Xántus de Vésey: Description of supposed new species of Birds from Cape St. Lucas, Lower California . In: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia . tape November 11 , 1859, p. 297-299 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).

Web links

Commons : Cactus Wren  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Arizona State Bird.
  2. ^ Bird Sounds Library - Arizona Field Ornithologists
  3. ^ All About Birds.
  4. ^ Animal Fact Sheet.
  5. ↑ Audubon - Guide to North American Birds.
  6. ^ IUCN Red List.
  7. ^ Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
  8. ↑ IOC World Bird List Dapple-throats, sugarbirds, fairy-bluebirds, kinglets, hyliotas, wrens & gnatcatchers
  9. ↑ a b c Amadeo Michael Rea, p. 119.
  10. ↑ Alfred Webster Anthony, pp. 211-212.
  11. ↑ János Xántus de Vesey, S. 298th
  12. ^ Adriaan Joseph van Rossem, p. 138.
  13. ↑ a b Richard Bowdler Sharpe, p. 196.
  14. ↑ a b Frédéric de Lafresnaye, pp. 5–6, plate 47 & text (class II).
  15. ^ John Gould, p. 89.
  16. ^ Johann Baptist von Spix, p. 77.
  17. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 87.
  18. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 78.
  19. ^ Adriaan Joseph van Rossem, p. 121.
  20. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 181.
  21. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 31.

Remarks

  1. ↑ Spix put the Campylorhynchus scolopaceus a synonym for thrush wren ( Campylorhynchus turdinus ( Wied-Neuwied , 1821)) and Campylorhynchus striolatus a synonym for the long-billed wren ( Cantorchilus longirostris ( Vieillot , 1819)) in the new genus.