Rock Wren
Rock WrenRock WrenRock WrenRock Wren

Rock Wren

Salpinctes obsoletus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
60–70% · Likely
overall probability at Badlands National Park
483 Verified records at Badlands National Park
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) is a small songbird of the wren family native to the rocky areas of western North America. There are 8 subspecies of the rock wren, one of which is extinct. They are similar in size to other wrens, with a grey-brown coat, a brown rump, and a speckled white throat. They are visually similar to the canyon wren, which they share a habitat with. They are noted for their variable song and song pattern, used for territory defense, as well as their habit of building "pavements" with flat rocks around their nest to help nestlings stay dry. Rock wrens are serially monogamous, forming pairs for nesting season. Wikipedia →

60–70% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Wren sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 483 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Badlands National Park

House Wren
LC

House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes aedon

5–10% · With luck
Canyon Wren
LC

Canyon Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catherpes mexicanus

Insufficient data
Western Meadowlark
LC

Western Meadowlark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnella neglecta

90–100% · Very likely
Cliff Swallow
LC

Cliff Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

50–60% · Likely
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

50–60% · Likely
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

50–60% · Likely
Horned Lark
LC Endemic

Horned Lark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eremophila alpestris

40–50% · Likely
Say's Phoebe
LC Endemic

Say's Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis saya

40–50% · Likely
Lark Sparrow
LC

Lark Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chondestes grammacus

40–50% · Likely
Common Grackle
NT

Common Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus quiscula

40–50% · Likely
Black-billed Magpie
LC

Black-billed Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pica hudsonia

40–50% · Likely
Western Kingbird
LC

Western Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus verticalis

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

50–60
Jan
60–70
Feb
50–60
Mar
50–60
Apr
50–60
May
60–70
Jun
50–60
Jul
70–80
Aug
60–70
Sep
30–40
Oct
40–50
Nov
40–50
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
2 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
50–60%
3 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
4 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
5 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
6 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
7 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
8 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
9 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
10 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
11 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
12 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
14 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
15 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
16 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
17 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
18 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
20 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
21 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
22 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
23 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Rock Wren in Badlands National Park?

About 62% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Wren sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 483 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Rock Wren in Badlands National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Rock Wren in Badlands National Park in our monthly data.

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