Rock Wren
Rock WrenRock WrenRock WrenRock Wren

Rock Wren

Salpinctes obsoletus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Joshua Tree National Park
1,403 Verified records at Joshua Tree National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) is a small songbird of the wren family native to the rocky areas of western North America. There are 8 subspecies of the rock wren, one of which is extinct. They are similar in size to other wrens, with a grey-brown coat, a brown rump, and a speckled white throat. They are visually similar to the canyon wren, which they share a habitat with. They are noted for their variable song and song pattern, used for territory defense, as well as their habit of building "pavements" with flat rocks around their nest to help nestlings stay dry. Rock wrens are serially monogamous, forming pairs for nesting season. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Wren sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 1,403 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park

Bewick's Wren
LC

Bewick's Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryomanes bewickii

30–40% · Possible
Cactus Wren
LC

Cactus Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

20–30% · Possible
Canyon Wren
LC

Canyon Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catherpes mexicanus

5–10% · With luck
House Wren
LC

House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes aedon

<5% · Rare
Marsh Wren
LC

Marsh Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cistothorus palustris

<5% · Rare
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

80–90% · Very likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Verdin
LC

Verdin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Auriparus flaviceps

60–70% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

50–60% · Likely
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Phainopepla
LC

Phainopepla

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Phainopepla nitens

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
30–40
Mar
30–40
Apr
20–30
May
20–30
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
20–30
Sep
40–50
Oct
30–40
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
2 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
50–60%
3 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
4 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
5 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
6 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
7 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
8 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
9 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
10 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
11 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
12 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
14 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
15 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
16 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
17 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
18 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
20 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
21 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
22 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
23 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Rock Wren in Joshua Tree National Park?

About 31% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Wren sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 1,403 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Rock Wren in Joshua Tree National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Rock Wren in Joshua Tree National Park in our monthly data.

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