From Opus

Photo by Leslie
Moorpark, California, USA November 2003

Thryomanes bewickii

[edit] Identification

L. 13.3cm (5.25in)
Ws. 18.4cm (7.25in)

• Overall drab color
  • Grays in the West; browns in the East
• Unmarked, lighter underside
  • White to gray
• Long barred tail
• Decurved bill
• White eyebrow

[edit] Similar Species

Similar to Carolina Wren

[edit] Distribution

Throughout the SW quadrant and Pacific Coastal regions of the U.S., extending deeply into central Mexico. Much less common east of the Mississippi, with dramatically declining populations extending to the Appalachian mountains.

[edit] Taxonom

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

On the order of 15 geographically separate subspecies have been documented; two went extinct in the early 1900s from predation and habitat destruction.

Eastern Group

• T. b. bewickii:

• North-central US to Kansas, Nebraska and Mississippi

• T. b. altus:

• Eastern North America (southern Ontario to central Georgia)

Interior West Group

• T. b.i eremophilus:

• Eastern California to Utah, Wyoming, western Texas and west-central Mexico

• T. b. cryptus:

• Kansas and Oklahoma to southern Texas and north-eastern Mexico (northern Tamaulipas)

• T. b. bairdii:

• South-eastern Mexico (Oaxaca, Veracruz and southern Puebla)

• T. b. percnus:

• Western Mexico (Jalisco to s Zacatecas)

Pacific Group

• T. b. calophonus:

• South-western British Columbia to western Washington and western Oregon

• T. b.i drymoecus:

• South-western Oregon to California (Sacramento and n San Joaquin valleys)

• T. b. atrestus:

• South-central Oregon to north-eastern California and west-central Nevada

• T. b. marinensis:

• Coastal California (Del Norte County to Marin County)

• T. b. spilurus:

• Coastal central California (San Francisco to Monterey Bay)

• T. b. correctus:

• Coastal California (San Benito County to San Diego)

• T. b. leucophrys: Extinct

• Formerly San Clemente Island (off southern California)

• T. b. charienturus:

• Northern Baja California (south to 30ºN)

• T. b. nesophilus:

• Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and Anacapa Islands off southern California

• T. b. catalinae:

• Catalina Island (off Southern California)

• T. b. cerroensis:

• West-central Baja California (30° to 26°N) and Isla Cedros

• T. b. magdalenensis:

• Southern Baja California south of 26ºN

• T. b. brevicauda: Extinct ca 1903

• Formerly Guadalupe Island (off Baja California)

A study shows genetic divisions within this species possibly indicating a future split.

[edit] Habitat

Open country; mixed scrub, grass, and wooded areas.

[edit] Behaviour

A relatively tame and conspicuous bird, it allows close approach, and is comfortable in man-made environments, often nesting in cavities provided by structures.

[edit] Diet

Insectivorous

[edit] Breeding

Monogamous

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Paper describing genetic findings with this species

• List of references

[edit] External Links