Arizona is known for the diversity it has in wildlife.It also has a range of deserts to amazing mountains, including the wide mountains. The state parks in Arizona have an assorted variety of all the wildlife.The cactus wren is deemed as the state bird. It has the biological name Heleodytes brunneicapillus cousei. This bird was chosen as the state bird in the year 1931. These birds are said to be native to the arid region of southwestern United States which also extends into central Mexico. Hence these perching birds can be seen in central Mexico as well.These birds are called cactus wren because they build their nests in the cactus. However, they are also found around yucca, saguaro, and mesquite. They seem to select these particular plants as the thorns provide them with protection. They feed on insects mostly. Insects such as ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and wasps are the insects they feed upon. Sometimes they also eat the occasional seeds and fruits. Occasional seeds may include the ones that are sown.After reading about cactus wrens and their habitat, also check Arizona facts and Arizona cactuses.Official State Bird Of ArizonaThe cactus wren, which is the official state bird of Arizona, is known for building its nests within the prickly thorns of cacti.They protect their territory aggressively and defend the nests from predators. They are also known to destroy the nests of other bird species by methods such as pecking and removing the eggs of other birds before they can hatch.Characteristics Of The Cactus WrenThese birds have brown speckled chests. They grow to a length of 7 in (17.7 cm) to approximately 8 in (20.3 cm). These birds lay a pinkish-colored egg with reddish-brown spots.Sometimes the cactus wren even consumes frogs. The nest of these birds is made of coarse grass, feathers along with fibers from plants, and sometimes even fabric. They don’t drink water that often. But they seem to get the required amount of water from all the insects they consume. Both male and female birds of the species look similar. These birds do not migrate to other places but instead establish a strong territory for themselves.Distribution And HabitatThe population of these birds has dropped majorly. They have faced habitat loss though they have a large population. These wrens live in semi-desert-like regions.They look for spiny cacti to live on. The following deserts are the places they live in, Sonoran desert and Chihuahuan desert. The shape of their territory and its size is said to change over a period of time. In the US, these birds are present in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. However, they aren’t considered the state bird in places like California. The State bird of California is the California quail. In the cacti of Texas, these birds reside. The southwestern part of Utah is the home to these birds.Behavior And EcologyThese wrens are found in pairs usually and feed the family through the spring season and winters as well. The flocks of these birds have been seen very rarely. Even if they flock, it must be in a region of forage and they do not flock for more than a few hours at a time.These birds are not made to fly hence they are not strong fliers. They usually spend more time on the ground comparatively. They however have the ability to flap their wings and glide. The birds breed very differently. They are slightly bulky. These birds are usually hunted by the coachwhip snakes. They are otherwise also preyed on by foxes, eagles, domestic cats, and coyotes. Though these birds are strong fighters, they do not necessarily protect themselves from these dangerous predators.Breeding And NestingSince both the male and female birds of this species look like they identify their mates by the behavioral differences they show. The mating season of these birds happens from late February to March.They have loose globose-shaped nests made of various materials. The nest of this bird is preferably built in a jumping cholla plant. They look like American football or resemble a rugby ball’s shape. They are made out of grass, twigs, weeds, and sometimes also chicken feathers.They also use these urban materials that are available in order to build a sturdy nest. These nests have an entrance that has a tube-like entrance through which they enter into the remainder of the cavity. These birds take a week to build their nests.Conserving The Cactus WrenThese cactus wrens are not essentially endangered however, due to habitat loss they go through habitat fragmentation. This can lead to more danger to the population of these birds.Therefore as humans, we need to make sure we do not occupy and acquire all the places these birds reside in. The urban population of these birds has faced a steep decline and there has been a loss in the population as well. Invasive grasses have proven to be a threat to these birds. They require cacti for their living but they are not able to find them. These birds are listed as California species of special concern as well due to the taxonomic disputes.The Arizona state bird cactus wren belongs to the Campylorhynchus species. The Arizona state bird cactus wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus are lighter colored birds with white spots, white bars, brown capped curved bill, and white eye stripe found all year round. Their life-cycle consists of eggs that are laid in batches of three to four eggs during the early march when they lay their first nest and they hatch late march.While calling it Arizona state bird cactus wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, the name is cactus wren and Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus is the species. This true bird can be found near free standing water. Since this true bird is small, other wrens cannot fight the current of water and hence is found near freestanding water. These birds are named after cactus plants like the saguaro cactus, since the saguaro cactus plants build nests, roost, and seek protection from predators among them.According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is a federal crime to ’take’ birds or other bird parts and bird species, including feathers, or to kill birds without special permission from the Secretary of the Interior. The breeding season for the state bird the cactus wren is from early March to June. Male female cactus wrens mate to lay eggs. Male and female cactus wrens mate and the eggs hatch after 16 days. The state bird of Arizona cactus wren’s nest is laid around the same time.There are other symbols other than just the state birds. The state flower of Arizona is the Saguaro which also is the type of state bird. The ringtail is the state mammal of Arizona. Arizona is found in the southwestern United States, near southern California. These were the state symbols and official birds. The cactus wren is the largest wren found in Arizona.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Arizona state bird facts then why not take a look at Arizona state landmarks, or Arizona fires.
Arizona is known for the diversity it has in wildlife.
