Arizona State Bird: Cactus Wren
The cactus wren spends its time in the desert living in the spiny saguaro and cholla cacti. The male and female
look alike; their backs are brown with white spots and their wings have white bars and their tail has black bars. It is the largest wren in North America.
They are skittish and noisy often “yelling” at those who dare to come near. They eat insects, seeds and fruits. The male often builds several nests and then the female picks her favorite. The female lays 3-6 eggs and incubates them about 16 days. The young leave the next after about 3 weeks. Between March and July they will raise 2-3 families. The cactus wren was made Arizona’s state bird in 1931.
Enjoy the printable color sheet.
Miscellaneous birdhouse thoughts: If someone was brave enough to stick their hand into the cactus and nail up a birdhouse do you think the wrens might nest there? If I had easy access to a desert I would try it out. If someone is brave enough to try please let me know if it works =)
