While visiting the desert country of Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico over a period of many years, I became aware of an interesting desert bird that has become one of my favorite birds. This bird, the Cactus Wren, is common, but only found in the deserts of Southern California, and southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas, and parts of northern Mexico.  It is much bigger than its other wren “cousins”, measuring about 8-inches in length, being slightly smaller than a robin.

Aside from its striking feather patterns, the thing that is unique about this bird is it call.  The sound is memorable, and once heard, you will always remember it. It has been described by some as sounding like an old car or tractor trying to start. If you have not heard this bird’s song before, I encourage you to listen to it here: https://youtu.be/iv8Yt91ZGUs. It is quite easy to locate a singing bird by following the sound and looking for the bird perched on the top of a cactus or small tree. Not surprisingly, it is the state bird of Arizona.

Its favorite nesting place, if you can believe it, is in the middle of a cholla cactus, although it may also pick other thorny shrubs and trees which provide some protection from predators. The nest is shaped like a football with a tunnel entrance at one end.  I have located numerous nests which appeared to be vacant, but I have since learned that these birds also use nests year-round for a shelter at night even when not breeding. The male may build another nest while the female is caring for young in anticipation of another brood and may take material from an old nest and recycle it into a new nest. It feeds on spiders, ants, beetles, and some fruit.

A very cool bird and one of my favorites.

-by John DeLapp, from his Dear John Column, March 2020  (#59)