Band-backed Wren

Overview

The band-backed wren (Campylorhynchus zonatus) is a small songbird belonging to the wren family. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• 16.5 cm in length and weighing 29 g, this is a large wren with a brown-grey crown and a distinct black nape.
• Upperparts and tail are heavily barred with black, tawny, and white, while the breast and throat are white and heavily spotted with black.
• The belly is cinnamon, and young birds exhibit duller upperparts with off-white to buff underparts.
• Vocalisations include a short rasping 'zek' call and a song consisting of a mix of dry chatters, splutters, and gurgles.

Habitat

This species is a resident breeder ranging from south-central Gulf Coast Mexico to northwestern Ecuador, primarily occurring on the Caribbean side of the Central American mountain ranges. It inhabits lowlands and foothills from sea level up to 1700 m altitude, favouring thinned forest, open woodland, scrub, second growth, and groves around houses.

Diet

The band-backed wren forages actively in family groups of 4 to 12 birds. Its diet consists mainly of insects, spiders, and other invertebrates.

Did you know?

This bird constructs a large spherical nest with a wide side entrance, often hidden amidst bromeliads at heights of 2 to 30 m. After the breeding season, families sleep together in dormitory nests similar to those used for breeding throughout the year.