Canyon Wren
Canyon Wren has risen sharply: up 59% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
About the Canyon Wren
The Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) is a North American member of the Wrens (Troglodytidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the forest birds.
- Size
- 4–8.5 in long (10–22 cm) — a small, energetic songbird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Woodlands and forest edges, including wooded suburbs and parks.
- Diet
- Insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, with seeds and berries in season.
- Range
- Recorded on 409 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 14 states, most concentrated in the Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau.
- Family
- Troglodytidae · Forest birds
Notable Canyon Wren Trends
No notable trend signals for Canyon Wren. See the full index history below.
Canyon Wren Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Canyon Wren is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.06 (95% range 0.03–0.09). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±78.4%, with 40% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
| Year | Projected index | 95% low | 95% high |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| 2026 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| 2027 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| 2028 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| 2029 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 0.09 |
Where the Canyon Wren Is Detected
BBS routes recording Canyon Wren, sized by most recent count.
Canyon Wren Population Trend by State
| Arizona | -25% | 1970 | 45 |
| California | +4% | 1970 | 88 |
| Colorado | -35% | 1975 | 35 |
| Idaho | -78% | 1986 | 12 |
| Montana | insufficient data | n/a | 4 |
| Nevada | +130% | 1990 | 13 |
| New Mexico | -35% | 1971 | 32 |
| Oklahoma | +123% | 2000 | 5 |
| Oregon | +107% | 1973 | 35 |
| South Dakota | +29% | 1987 | 8 |
| Texas | +18% | 1969 | 42 |
| Utah | -95% | 1970 | 50 |
| Washington | +217% | 1983 | 18 |
| Wyoming | -98% | 1979 | 22 |
Canyon Wren Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
| Northern Pacific Rainforest | -68% | 1975 | 9 |
| Great Basin | +207% | 1972 | 75 |
| Northern Rockies | -57% | 1973 | 44 |
| Sierra Nevada | -46% | 1974 | 17 |
| Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau | -88% | 1970 | 94 |
| Badlands and Prairies | -7% | 1982 | 13 |
| Shortgrass Prairie | +2% | 1973 | 9 |
| Central Mixed Grass Prairie | +44% | 1972 | 8 |
| Edwards Plateau | -30% | 1971 | 15 |
| Oaks and Prairies | -63% | 1969 | 5 |
| Coastal California | -32% | 1971 | 43 |
| Sonoran and Mojave Deserts | -39% | 1970 | 25 |
| Sierra Madre Occidental | -24% | 1970 | 27 |
| Chihuahuan Desert | +1% | 1970 | 25 |
Canyon Wren Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 59% since 1969.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.