Cactus Wren:
Arizona's state bird is seven to eight inches long and likes to build nests in the protection of thorny desert plants like the arms of the giant saguaro cactus. It builds many nests but lives in only one. The rest are decoys.
The cactus wren is the largest wren in Arizona (and the United States). It is about the size of a starling and may be identified by its song, a repeated chug-chug-chug, much like the sound of a car engine trying to turn over. Cactus wrens are light brown in color, with a paler breast spotted with dark brown, and a distinctive white eye stripe.
The range of the cactus wren includes central and southern Arizona, southern New Mexico and west Texas. Cactus wrens are year long Arizona residents, found in much of the Sonoran desert habitat type.
The nest of a cactus wren is large and football shaped. It is usually made of vegetation and is often found in cholla or other cactus plants. The cactus wren uses its nest to raise young and as a year-round residence. Cactus wrens are insect eaters and usually lay 4-5 spotted eggs early in the spring of the year.
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Courtesy of State of Arizona
