Sinaloa Wren
Thryophilus sinaloa
Small skulking wren of lowlands and foothills in West Mexico. Plumage rather plain, with bold white eyebrow and diffuse stripes on sides of neck. Compare with brighter rufous and buffy Happy Wren, which also has a more distinct black mustache stripe. Sinaloa Wren favors thorn forests, plantations, and thickets, often in slightly more open habitats than Happy Wren. Heard more often than seen. Song is a powerful series of rich whistles, quite different from sweeter Happy Wren song. Scolding calls vary, but does not make “comb trill” of Happy.
Identification
The Sinaloa wren is 11.8 to 14 cm (4.6 to 5.5 in) long and weighs 10.9 to 19.8 g (0.38 to 0.70 oz). The nominate adults have dull brown upperparts that become more rufescent on the rump. The tail is rufous brown with black or dusky bars. They have a white to buffy white supercilium, a black streak behind the eye, and dusky-striped white cheeks. The sides of the neck have broad black and white streaks. The throat and breast are white darkening to pale brown on the flanks. Juveniles are similar but their flanks are paler and more cinnamon and the facial markings less distinct. The adult T. s. cinereus is paler and grayer than the nominate. T. s. russeus' upperparts are a deep russet brown.
Taxonomy
The Sinaloa wren has three subspecies, the nominate Thryophilus sinaloa sinaloa, T. s. cinereus, and T. s. russeus.
- Scientific name
- Thryophilus sinaloa
- Authority
- Baird, SF, 1864
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Troglodytidae
- Genus
- Thryophilus
Range and habitat
The Sinaloa wren is endemic to Mexico though individuals are seen almost annually in southern Arizona. T. s. cinereus is the northernmost subspecies; it is found from northeastern Sonora south to northern Sinaloa and western Chihuahua and as a visitor to Arizona. T. s. sinaloa is found from central Sinaloa and western Durango south to Michoacán. T. s. russeus is found from central Guerrero east to western Oaxaca. The species inhabits the understory of deciduous forest and its edges, both undisturbed and second growth. It also occurs in plantations.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Though no specifics have been published, the Sinaloa wren is known to be insectivorous. It forages mostly near the ground but occasionally as high as 10 m (33 ft) above it. It is assumed to capture its prey mostly by gleaning.<p>The Sinaloa wren breeds between April and July, after the rainy season. The nest's shape has been likened to a flask; it is draped over a slender branch with the body on one side and the tunnel entrance on the other. The principal material is grass. It is often placed near colonies of aggressive ants or wasps. The clutch size is four or five.<p>The Sinaloa wren has a complex song. It has variously been described as "loud and variable...composed of rich phrases" and "clear gurgling whistles...with a rapid series of short trills" [1]. Calls include "a rough buzzy rasp" [2] and "a hard, dry chatter" [3].
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Brown Shrike
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Medium-sized shrike with a slender black mask and rufous-brown rump and tail. Plumage varies across range: “Japanese” has the warmest rufous tones, “Philippine” has a gray-washed head and back, and “Brown” averages in between. Averages stronger-billed in appearance than other medium-sized “brownish” shrikes. Male’s repetitive song often incorporates imitations of other birds. Most common call is a dry “ch-ch-ch.” Favors open forests and fields with scattered trees and bushes; often in parks and gardens.
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