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Home/Species/ Rock Wren

Salpinctes obsoletus

(Say, 1822)

Rock Wren

G5Secure Found in 281 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103741
Element CodeABPBG03010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyTroglodytidae
GenusSalpinctes
Other Common Names
Chivirín Saltarroca (ES) rock wren (EN) Troglodyte des rochers (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-12-03
Range Extent Comments
BREEDS: south-central British Columbia east to southern Saskatchewan, east to northwestern North Dakota, southern South Dakota, central Nebraska, western Oklahoma, and central Texas, and south to southern Baja California and through Central America to Costa Rica. A pair bred near Churchill, Manitoba, in 1988. WINTERS: northern California east to southern Utah, south to Arizona, New Mexico, southern Texas and south through breeding range, occasionally in northwestern and central U.S. (Terres 1980)
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

In arid or semi-arid habitat. In shrubby areas in rocky canyons and cliffs, rock slides, boulder-strewn slopes, arroyos with sparse vegetation. Seen around concrete and stone buildings. Nests in gopher burrows, rock crevices, cavities under rocks, adobe buildings, etc. Nest sites may be reused in subsequent years. Nest is made of grasses, rootlets, and plant stems, lined with fur, hair and feathers, and built on a foundation of small flat stones (e.g., see Merola 1995).

Reproduction

In New Mexico, nest building was observed as early as early March (Merola 1995). Clutch size is 4-10 in north (usually 5-6); 4 in Costa Rica (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Incubation, by female, lasts about 12-14 days (Merola 1995). Fledging occurs in 14-16 days (Merola 1995). Young are tended by both parents. In New Mexico, some pairs produced three broods in one season (Merola 1995). Male may tend brood while female starts new clutch (Merola 1995).
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralDesertBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
UtahS4B,S3NYes
OklahomaSNRYes
Navajo NationS5B,S3NYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
ColoradoS4Yes
New MexicoS4Yes
MontanaS5BYes
OregonS5Yes
IdahoS5BYes
NevadaS4Yes
ArkansasS2NYes
South DakotaS4BYes
WashingtonS4BYes
TexasS5BYes
WyomingS5B,S5NYes
KansasS3BYes
North DakotaSNRBYes
ArizonaS5Yes
NebraskaS4Yes
CanadaN5B,N4M
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaS4BYes
SaskatchewanS4BYes
British ColumbiaS4BYes
Roadless Areas (281)
Arizona (25)
AreaForestAcres
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Burro CanyonKaibab National Forest19,928
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Hell HoleApache-Sitgreaves National Forests15,512
Horse MesaTonto National Forest9,146
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest6,518
Santa RitaCoronado National Forest6,078
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Rincon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,991
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
Willis CanyonKaibab National Forest9,688
California (106)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Bald RockPlumas National Forest4,675
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Benton RangeInyo National Forest9,637
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
Callahan FlowKlamath National Forest3,231
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle Crags AShasta-Trinity National Forest113
Castle Crags BShasta-Trinity National Forest1,619
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest19,631
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Dexter CanyonInyo National Forest17,053
Dobie FlatModoc National Forest15,079
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Duncan CanyonTahoe National Forest8,621
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
EbbettsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest255
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest624
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
IshiLassen National Forest21,805
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
Lakes BasinTahoe National Forest557
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Long MeadowHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,967
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. BidwellModoc National Forest11,687
Mt. EddyShasta-Trinity National Forest7,232
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Mt. Shasta AShasta-Trinity National Forest676
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Silver HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,423
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
Soldier CanyonInyo National Forest40,589
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Sweetwater (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest19,241
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
TinemahaInyo National Forest27,060
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest829
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
Wild Cattle MtnLassen National Forest4,965
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
Wilderness ContiguousMendocino National Forest3,606
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Colorado (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bristol HeadRio Grande NF46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Idaho (3)
AreaForestAcres
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
Montana (13)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
LionheadGallatin National Forest33,549
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
O'Neil CreekBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest6,279
SapphireBitterroot National Forest43,303
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
Nevada (33)
AreaForestAcres
Alta T - East BHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,732
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Angel Peak SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,540
Arc Dome - OphirHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,652
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Black SpringHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,016
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
Charleston - CarpenterHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest17,828
Charleston - Macks CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,378
Humboldt - Angel LkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,008
Jenneman PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,431
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
PotosiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,145
QuinnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest62,459
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Rose - VerdiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,155
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest13,195
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
ShellbackHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest36,455
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - ChokecherryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,845
Snake - MurphyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,064
SnowbirdHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,859
Spanish PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest31,520
SugarloafInyo National Forest11,534
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
Wellington HillsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,009
New Mexico (26)
AreaForestAcres
Alamo CanyonSanta Fe National Forest8,639
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Arroyo de los FrijolesSanta Fe National Forest5,277
Bull CanyonCarson National Forest11,512
CajaSanta Fe National Forest5,304
Candian RiverCibola National Forest7,149
Capitan MountainsLincoln National Forest14,069
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
El InviernoSanta Fe National Forest29,927
Frisco BoxGila National Forest38,979
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
GrapevineLincoln National Forest2,086
Hell HoleGila National Forest19,553
Jefferies CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
Last Chance CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
Latir PeakCarson National Forest3,573
LemitasSanta Fe National Forest8,129
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
Scott MesaCibola National Forest39,515
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Tucson MountainLincoln National Forest16,905
Wagon TongueGila National Forest11,411
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
North Dakota (3)
AreaForestAcres
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
MagpieDakota Prairie Grasslands21,281
WannaganDakota Prairie Grasslands6,026
Oregon (19)
AreaForestAcres
Crane MountainFremont National Forest23,096
DeadhorseWallowa-Whitman National Forest10,690
Drake - McdowellFremont National Forest5,767
Dry CabinMalheur National Forest12,274
Echo MountainWillamette National Forest8,098
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
HuckleberryWillamette National Forest793
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
LookingglassUmatilla National Forest4,859
Maiden PeakDeschutes National Forest26,432
Maiden PeakWillamette National Forest9,627
North PaulinaDeschutes National Forest19,670
Sheep DivideWallowa-Whitman National Forest16,201
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
South PaulinaDeschutes National Forest9,074
Waldo - LakeWillamette National Forest2,993
Walla Walla RiverUmatilla National Forest34,416
South Dakota (3)
AreaForestAcres
Cheyenne RiverBuffalo Gap National Grassland7,572
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Red ShirtBuffalo Gap National Grassland17,007
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (26)
AreaForestAcres
0401001Ashley National Forest11,705
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418026Uinta National Forest14,038
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
Box - Death HollowDixie National Forest3,175
Capital ReefDixie National Forest763
Cedar BenchDixie National Forest8,915
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
Happy ValleyDixie National Forest14,458
Joe LottFishlake National Forest19,826
Kane MountainDixie National Forest8,013
Long Neck Mesa / Steep Creek / Oak Creek - Steep Creek / OakDixie National Forest55,489
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
North PavantFishlake National Forest53,262
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Signal PeakFishlake National Forest30,889
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
Wayne WonderlandFishlake National Forest12,395
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (1)
AreaForestAcres
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
Wyoming (18)
AreaForestAcres
0401035Ashley National Forest5,465
0401036Ashley National Forest6,309
Bear RocksBighorn National Forest25,023
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Bridger PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest6,697
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Devils CanyonBighorn National Forest37,416
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Mowry PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest6,244
Sheep MountainMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest17,626
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Walker PrairieBighorn National Forest62,434
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (20)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  3. Balda, R. P., and G. C. Bateman. 1971. Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, <i>Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus</i>. Condor 73:287-302.
  4. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  5. Bureau of Land Management. Life History Summaries.
  6. Horn, H. S. 1968. The adaptive significance of colonial nesting in the Brewer's Blackbird. Ecology 49:682-694.
  7. Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb. 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  8. Ligon, J. D. 1971. Late summer-autumnal breeding of the piñon jay in New Mexico. Condor 73:147-153.
  9. Merola, M. 1995. Observations on the nesting and breeding behavior of the rock wren. Condor 97:585-587.
  10. Moore, W. S., and R. A. Dolbeer. 1989. The use of banding recovery data to estimate dispersal rates and gene flow in avian species: case studies in the Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle. Condor 91:242-253.
  11. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  12. Peterson, R.T. 1990b. A field guide to western birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  13. Scott, S. L. 1983. Field guide to the birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.
  14. Stiles, F. G. and A. F. Skutch. 1989. A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, USA. 511 pp.
  15. Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (<i>Cyanocitta cristata</i>). No. 469 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  16. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  17. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  18. Williams, L. 1952b. Breeding behavior of the Brewer blackbird. Condor 54:3-47.
  19. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.
  20. Zook, J. L. 2002. Distribution maps of the birds of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Unpublished.