Canyon Wren

The canyon wren measures 14–15 cm (5.5–5.9 in) with a long thin beak and square-tipped tail. Its speckled, chestnut coloration shades to gray at the head with a contrasting white throat patch. Its coloration and small size allow it to camouflage seamlessly with its rocky environment. The canyon wren's loud, distinctive call consists of a series of cascading notes. It sings most frequently in spring, however mated pairs may sing at any time. When defending its territory, the song is harsher and has a lower frequency,

Though canyon wrens do not migrate, individuals may make short seasonal movements. Their typical range extends from southern British Columbia (in the Okanagan Valley) throughout much of the western United States and Mexico. Disjunct populations occur in the Black Hills of southwest South Dakota, northeast Wyoming and southeast Montana.

The canyon wren uses its long, slender beaks to probe crevices in the rock for small insects and spiders, and will sometimes steal prey found in spiderwebs or wasp nests. Though it mainly forages along rock surfaces, it will occasionally hunt in bushes, on the ground, or even take insects in flight.