Rufous-naped Wren
Encyclopedia
The Rufous-naped Wren, Campylorhynchus rufinucha, is a songbird
of the Troglodytidae family, the wren
s. It is a resident breeding species from central-southwest Mexico
to northwestern Costa Rica
.
This large wren breeds in lowlands and foothills from sea level up to 800 m altitude in forest or open woodland, scrub, second growth and savanna. It is found mainly on the Pacific side of the central mountain ranges. Its spherical nest has a side entrance and is lined with seed down. It is constructed 1.5 – 8 m high in thorny trees or shrub, especially bull’s-horn acacia. This species sometimes nests close to the nests of wasps and there is experimental evidence that those that do so are afforded substantial protection from predation by doing so.
The female alone incubates the three to five brown- or black-spotted white eggs for about two weeks until hatching, and the young fledge after about the same length of time again. After breeding, families sleep together in dormitory nests like those used for breeding.
The adult Rufous-naped Wren is 17 cm long and weighs 36 g. It has a black crown and eyestripe separated by a strong white supercilium
, a rufous nape, and cinnamon-brown upperparts streaked with black and white, especially on the rump. The wings and tail are barred with black and greyish-white. The underparts are white. Young birds have duller upperparts and buff underparts.
This species has a short rasping call. The song is a mix of rich whistles, chatters and gurgles often given as a duet.
The Rufous-naped Wren forages actively in low vegetation in pairs or family groups. It eats mainly eats insect
s, spider
s and other invertebrate
s. This species is often tame and inquisitive.
Three main populations vary markedly in size and coloration, and may represent separate species: Veracruz Wren (restricted to central coastal Veracruz
), Rufous-naped Wren (north and west from western Chiapas
), and Rufous-backed Wren (south and east from western Chiapas).
Songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds . Another name that is sometimes seen as scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin oscen, "a songbird"...
of the Troglodytidae family, the wren
Wren
The wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. There are approximately 80 species of true wrens in approximately 20 genera....
s. It is a resident breeding species from central-southwest Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to northwestern Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
.
This large wren breeds in lowlands and foothills from sea level up to 800 m altitude in forest or open woodland, scrub, second growth and savanna. It is found mainly on the Pacific side of the central mountain ranges. Its spherical nest has a side entrance and is lined with seed down. It is constructed 1.5 – 8 m high in thorny trees or shrub, especially bull’s-horn acacia. This species sometimes nests close to the nests of wasps and there is experimental evidence that those that do so are afforded substantial protection from predation by doing so.
The female alone incubates the three to five brown- or black-spotted white eggs for about two weeks until hatching, and the young fledge after about the same length of time again. After breeding, families sleep together in dormitory nests like those used for breeding.
The adult Rufous-naped Wren is 17 cm long and weighs 36 g. It has a black crown and eyestripe separated by a strong white supercilium
Supercilium
The supercilium is a plumage feature found on the heads of some bird species. It is a stripe which runs from the base of the bird's beak above its eye, finishing somewhere towards the rear of the bird's head. Also known as an "eyebrow", it is distinct from the eyestripe, which is a line which runs...
, a rufous nape, and cinnamon-brown upperparts streaked with black and white, especially on the rump. The wings and tail are barred with black and greyish-white. The underparts are white. Young birds have duller upperparts and buff underparts.
This species has a short rasping call. The song is a mix of rich whistles, chatters and gurgles often given as a duet.
The Rufous-naped Wren forages actively in low vegetation in pairs or family groups. It eats mainly eats insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s and other invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s. This species is often tame and inquisitive.
Three main populations vary markedly in size and coloration, and may represent separate species: Veracruz Wren (restricted to central coastal Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
), Rufous-naped Wren (north and west from western Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
), and Rufous-backed Wren (south and east from western Chiapas).
External links
- Stamps (for El SalvadorEl SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, NicaraguaNicaraguaNicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
) with ~RangeMap Graphic from stamp-(Article) - Rufous-naped Wren photo gallery VIREO
- Photo-High Res; Article jaegertours–"Veracruz"
- Photo-Very High Res; Article jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu–"Costa Rica Ecology"
