These tiny gray-brown birds are easy to overlook as they forage on the towering cliffs of Devil's Slide. I am always amazed by their vocal gymnastics, including many varied phrases. Kroodsma documented that some individuals sing over 100 different songs, including mimicry of other birds. (D. E. Kroodsma 1975. Song patterning in the Rock Wren. Condor 77: 294–303.) Rock Wrens are active little birds, often doing "knee-bends" while standing on a rock, possibly in response to an intruder. Unlike many other wrens, the Rock Wren seldom cocks its tail. North American populations are usually assigned to the nominate subspecies, "S. o. obsoletus" which lacks spotting or bars on the flanks. This is the only member of the genus "Salpinctes" believed to be basal to the other wrens.
