Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)

order Passeriformes: perching birds
family Troglodytidae: wrens

Rock Wren #24, Placer County California  21 Janurary 2022

Rock Wren #23, Placer County California  21 Janurary 2022

Rock Wren #22, Placer County California  21 Janurary 2022

Rock Wren #21, Placer County California  21 Janurary 2022

Rock Wren #19, Placer County California  21 Janurary 2022

Rock Wren #17, Placer County California  21 Janurary 2022

Rock Wren #16, Placer County California  21 Janurary 2022

Rock Wren #15, Placer County California  21 Janurary 2022

Rock Wren #13, Sacramento County California  10 February 2019

Rock Wren #10, Sacramento County California  10 February 2019

Rock Wren #09, Sacramento County California  10 February 2019

Rock Wren #08, Sacramento County California  10 February 2019

Rock Wren #07, Sacramento County California  10 February 2019

Rock Wren #05, Sacramento County California - 10 January 2018

Rock Wren #03, Sacramento County California  10 January 2018

Field identification tips: A tiny drab brown songbird with seemingly boundless energy flitting among boulders in search of spiders and insects. Typical of wrens, the Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) has a thin pointed bill and short wings; S. obsoletus is gray-brown above flecked with tiny white spots, whitish throat with fine streaks and buffy sides; fine bars on the tail contrast with a dark subterminal band. Under tail coverts have bold bars. Sexes are similar.

Typical range: In North America, this species breeds in the western mountains and deserts from southern Canada through Mexico, moving downslope or somewhat southward for the winter.

Habitat:  S. obsoletus is a bird of rocky areas or boulder fields interspersed with vegetation, especially rocky slopes. This species can often be observed perched on top of rocks.

Rock Wren habitat, Placer County California

text and photographs Copyright © Douglas Herr
last updated 02 January 2025
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