Boucard's Wren
Campylorhynchus jocosus
Large social wren of arid scrub in interior of southwest Mexico; endemic. Favors thorn forest and cactus scrub, including around towns and villages. Usually in small social groups, which can be conspicuous at times and at other times very skulking and elusive. No similar wrens in its limited range. Note the long bill, boldly spotted underparts, and barred tail. Thrashers (Curve-billed and Ocellated) occur in same range but are appreciably larger, with plain wings and tail.
Identification
Boucard's wren is 17 cm (6.7 in) long and weighs 23.8 to 29.8 g (0.84 to 1.05 oz). The male has a chocolate crown, reddish nape, blackish shoulders with white streaks, a reddish-brown back with black and white spots, and a dull reddish rump. Its tail is gray-brown with dark brown bars and the outermost feathers have white tips. It has a dull white supercilium and blackish eyestripe; the rest of the face is dark gray. Its chin and throat are unmarked white and the underparts are white with black spots. Its flanks are buffy with darker bars. The female is similar but for smaller spots on the underparts. The markings on the juvenile's back are less well defined than the adult's, its throat is speckled, and its underparts are grayish with dull, diffuse, spots.
Taxonomy
Boucard's wren has sometimes been considered conspecific with the spotted wren (Campylorhynchus gularis) but molecular data show that they are not closely related. The species is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Campylorhynchus jocosus
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1860
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Troglodytidae
- Genus
- Campylorhynchus
Range and habitat
Boucard's wren is found in south-central Mexico, in the states of Puebla, Morelos, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. It inhabits dry to arid forest that sometimes has giant cacti; examples are pine-oak woodland, oak scrub, and subtropical scrub. It is very tolerant of habitat disturbance. In elevation it mostly ranges from 800 to 2,500 m (2,600 to 8,200 ft) but can be found as low as 600 m (2,000 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Boucard's wren forages from ground level to the tops of trees and cacti but seldom on the ground itself. Its diet includes both animal and vegetable matter such as insects and cactus seeds.<p>Boucard's wren was observed building a nest in April, and nests with eggs were found in Oaxaca between mid-June and early July. The nests are domes with a side entrance. The clutch sizes were three to four.<p>The Boucard's wren song is "a series of grating notes" [1]. It also produces "a harsh rapid chatter" [2]. The sexes sing in unison.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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