Cactus Wren
Cactus WrenCactus WrenCactus WrenCactus Wren

Cactus Wren

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Joshua Tree National Park
1,258 Verified records at Joshua Tree National Park
June 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 →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Cactus Wren sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 1,258 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park

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
Canyon Wren
LC

Canyon Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catherpes mexicanus

5–10% · With luck
House Wren
LC

House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes aedon

<5% · Rare
Marsh Wren
LC

Marsh Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cistothorus palustris

<5% · Rare
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

80–90% · Very likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Verdin
LC

Verdin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Auriparus flaviceps

60–70% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

50–60% · Likely
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Phainopepla
LC

Phainopepla

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Phainopepla nitens

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
20–30
Mar
30–40
Apr
30–40
May
40–50
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
20–30
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 Joshua Tree National Park?

About 28% of wildlife watchers report a Cactus Wren sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 1,258 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cactus Wren in Joshua Tree National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Cactus Wren in Joshua Tree National Park in our monthly data.

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