The cactus wren is Arizona’s state bird, chosen by the legislature in 1931. They mate for life, defend their territory aggressively, and nest in cacti. They feed on insects and can survive without clean water. In 1986, four more state wildlife symbols were chosen.
Arizona’s state bird is the cactus wren, scientifically known as Heleodytes brunneicapillus couesi. The cactus wren was chosen as the state bird by the Arizona State Legislature in 1931 and remained the state’s sole wildlife symbol until 1986, when four more state wildlife symbols were chosen. The cactus wren is believed to be the largest wren species in North America, with a maximum length of 7 to 9 inches (18 to 22 centimeters) and a maximum weight of 1.1 to 1.7 ounces (32 to 47 grams). . These birds are usually mottled brown and their backs are typically brown with white bars while their breasts are typically white with dark brown bars or spots. They also usually have a telltale white stripe above each eye.
Males and females of cactus wren species generally mate for life. They typically occupy the same territory year-round and usually work together to defend it. The Arizona state bird is known to be particularly aggressive in defending its nest. When predators venture close to the nest, mated pairs of cactus wrens usually work together, attacking the intruder until it flees. The cactus wren is also known to peck and break the eggs of other bird species that nest within its territory.
The cactus wren typically prefers to make its home in cacti, such as yucca, saguaro or mesquite. The spines of cacti can offer nests an extra degree of protection from predators. The Arizona state bird is generally found throughout the deserts of the American Southwest and is also common in Mexico.
These birds feed mainly on insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, ants, and wasps. They are known to feed on fruits and seeds and, rarely, on amphibians and reptiles. They are believed to be able to support themselves without access to clean water. The cactus wren gets much of its moisture from food alone and often refuses to drink water when it finds it. Their eggs are usually pink in color, with rust-colored speckles.
The cactus wren has been the state bird of Arizona since 1931, but was, until 1986, the sole state symbol of Arizona. In 1985, the Arizona Game and Fish Department sponsored an election among the state’s students. The children chose four other wildlife species as state symbols for Arizona, and these state symbols were officially adopted the following year. Arizona’s state bird was then joined by a state mammal, the Arizona ringtail; a state reptile, the ridgenose rattlesnake; a state amphibian, the Arizona tree frog; and a state fish, the Arizona trout.
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