Rock wren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rock wren |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Troglodytidae |
| Genus: | Salpinctes Cabanis, 1847 |
| Species: |
S. obsoletus
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| Binomial name | |
| Salpinctes obsoletus (Say, 1823)
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The rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) is a small songbird. It belongs to the wren family. You can find these birds in South America and western North America. It is the only type of bird in its group, called Salpinctes.
Contents
What Does a Rock Wren Look Like?
Rock wrens are small birds. They have a special look that helps them blend in with rocks.
Size and Weight
- Length: About 4.9 to 5.9 inches (12.5 to 15 cm) long. That's about the length of a pencil!
- Weight: Around 0.5 to 0.6 ounces (15 to 18 grams). This is lighter than a few quarters.
- Wingspan: Their wings can spread about 8.7 to 9.4 inches (22 to 24 cm) wide.
Colors and Features
Rock wrens have grey-brown feathers on their backs. These feathers have tiny black and white spots. Their bellies are a pale grey color. They also have a light brown patch on their rump, which is the area above their tail.
You can spot a rock wren by a light grey line above its eye. They have a long, thin beak that curves down a little. Their tail is long and has stripes. They also have dark legs.
What Do Rock Wrens Eat?
Rock wrens are active hunters. They look for food on the ground. They search around and under objects like rocks. They use their long beaks to poke and pull out food.
Their main diet includes insects and spiders. They are very good at finding these small creatures.
Rock Wren Sounds and Songs
The song of a rock wren is a trill. A trill is a quick, vibrating sound. During the nesting season, their song becomes more varied. This means they sing different kinds of sounds and tunes.
Where Do Rock Wrens Live?
Rock wrens live in different places depending on the time of year.
Migration and Habitat
Some rock wrens stay in the same place all year. These are the ones living in the southern parts of their range. However, rock wrens from northern areas move to warmer places. They migrate south from the central United States and southwest Canada.
Sometimes, these birds wander to the eastern United States. This is not their usual home, so they are called "vagrants."
During the breeding season, they prefer dry, rocky areas. These places include canyons. You can find them from southwestern Canada all the way south to Costa Rica.
Nests and Young
Rock wrens build their nests in safe spots. They usually choose a crack or hole, often among rocks. Their nests are shaped like a cup. This cup-shaped nest keeps their eggs and young birds safe and cozy.
See also
In Spanish: Ratona de las rocas para niños
 | Dorothy Vaughan |
 | Charles Henry Turner |
 | Hildrus Poindexter |
 | Henry Cecil McBay |
