Rock Wren - (Salpinctes obsoletus)

House Wren image from the US Fish & Wildlife Service (in public domain)
[NO LOCAL IMAGE YET]
 An uncommon winter visitor and migrant in most of the Imperial Valley, the Rock Wren looks similar to the House Wren pictured at left. 

Although we have no natural rocky slope habitats for this bird, I have seen them searching for food among piles of broken concrete that have been dumped in rural areas.

If you visit the desert canyons in the nearby Anza-Borrego Desert State Park during early spring, you may spot their nests on ledges or crevices along the canyon walls (look for white droppings on canyon walls).

The best spot I have found in Imperial County is Shell Canyon (also called Fossil Canyon) just outside the town of Ocotillo.

If you are interested in learning more about this bird online - I recommend you start with the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.html

They present photographs, songs, identification tips, maps, and life history information for North American birds - including the Rock Wren

OTHER OUTSIDE LINKS FOR THIS BIRD:

Rock Wren, Bewick's Wren, Carolina Wren - "Special ID Page" for separating these wren species with characteristics images are displayed by the Connecticut Ornithological Association.

Stephan's Island Wren - Read how cats and rats can destroy unique island species in a very short time. Displayed by the "New Zealand Birds" Web site.

The following "WAV" format sound file is copyright protected by Doug Van Gausig of Sedona, Arizona, as part of the "Sounds of Nature" Web site:

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This site is maintained by:

Eldon R. Caldwell
Imperial Valley College
Email: eldonc@imperial.cc.ca.us