Cactus Wren
Cactus WrenCactus WrenCactus WrenCactus Wren

Cactus Wren

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
60–70% · Likely
overall probability at Big Bend National Park
2,659 Verified records at Big Bend National Park
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) is a species of wren that is endemic to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. It is the state bird of Arizona, and the largest wren in the United States. Its plumage is brown, with black and white spots as markings. It has a distinctive white eyebrow that sweeps to the nape of the neck. The chest is white, whereas the underparts are cinnamon-buff colored. Both sexes appear similar. Wikipedia →

60–70% of wildlife watchers report a Cactus Wren sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 2,659 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Big Bend National Park

Canyon Wren
LC

Canyon Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catherpes mexicanus

30–40% · Possible
Bewick's Wren
LC

Bewick's Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryomanes bewickii

30–40% · Possible
Rock Wren
LC Endemic

Rock Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Salpinctes obsoletus

30–40% · Possible
House Wren
LC

House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes aedon

5–10% · With luck
Marsh Wren
LC

Marsh Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cistothorus palustris

5–10% · With luck
Carolina Wren
LC

Carolina Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryothorus ludovicianus

<5% · Rare
Winter Wren
LC Endemic

Winter Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes hiemalis

<5% · Rare
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

60–70% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

60–70% · Likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

60–70% · Likely
Pyrrhuloxia
LC

Pyrrhuloxia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis sinuatus

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

40–50
Jan
50–60
Feb
50–60
Mar
60–70
Apr
60–70
May
60–70
Jun
60–70
Jul
60–70
Aug
50–60
Sep
50–60
Oct
40–50
Nov
50–60
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 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
2 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
50–60%
3 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
4 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
5 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
6 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
7 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
9 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
10 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
11 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cactus Wren in Big Bend National Park?

About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Cactus Wren sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 2,659 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cactus Wren in Big Bend National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Cactus Wren in Big Bend National Park in our monthly data.

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