Canebrake Wren

The Cabanis's wren, a modestly adorned bird, measures between 12.5 to 14 cm in length. Males typically weigh between 17.8 and 19.1 grams, while females are slightly lighter at 16.0 to 16.6 grams. Adults boast a dark gray-brown crown, a rufous-brown back, and an orange-rufous rump. Their tail is rufescent brown with narrow darker bars. A distinctive white supercilium, a gray-brown stripe post-eye, and mottled gray-brown and gray-white cheeks grace their visage. The throat is white, leading to a pale grayish buff chest and a belly of buffy white, flanked by orange-buff.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify Cabanis's wren, look for the white supercilium and the mottled cheeks. The rufous tones on the back and rump are also key characteristics. Note that individuals in the northern part of their range may appear darker and less rufous.

Habitat

Cabanis's wren is quite adaptable, inhabiting dry to humid environments. It can be found in forest edges, secondary growth, and even gardens, demonstrating a remarkable versatility in its choice of habitat.

Distribution

This species is distributed from the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, extending southward through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and reaching as far as central Costa Rica on the Pacific side.

Behaviour

Cabanis's wren typically forages in pairs within low dense vegetation, although it may occasionally venture higher into the trees. It is a bird that seems to thrive in human-altered landscapes, often seen as common to abundant in such areas.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of Cabanis's wren includes a song composed of 3-4 clear whistles. Its calls are varied, featuring a harsh 'chur' and a rippling, tinkling 'chi-cho-chi'.

Breeding

The species constructs a football-shaped nest with a side entrance, woven from grass and other plant fibers and lined with softer materials. These nests are typically placed within dense vegetation, no higher than 3 meters off the ground. Clutch sizes are generally two, but can occasionally number three.

Diet and Feeding

Cabanis's wren sustains itself primarily on a diet of insects and spiders, which it actively hunts in its preferred dense, low vegetation.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified Cabanis's wren as Least Concern, indicating a stable population that copes well with human-modified environments.