Rock Wren Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesRock Wren
Adult (Northern)
Medium-sized wren with a long tail and thin bill. Pale brown above and whitish below with slight buffy or peachy wash on the lower belly. Back and wings are finely speckled. Note pale eyebrow stripe.
© Danny Tipton / Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, January 04, 2021Adult (Northern)
Underparts are finely streaked, but often look whitish. Lower belly is washed in a pale peachy color. Upperparts are pale brown with speckling. Bounces up and down as it stands.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 10, 2020Adult
Has a habit of bobbing quickly down and then up again while standing.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 20, 2012Adult (Northern)
Found in rocky habitats; frequently bobs body up and down. Pale brown above with finely speckled back and wings. Note pale eyebrow stripe.
© Jack Parlapiano / Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, March 17, 2020Similar SpeciesCanyon Wren
Canyon Wrens have a clean white throat and are brighter, rustier brown overall than Rock Wrens.
© Nancy Christensen / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 01, 2017Similar SpeciesNorthern House Wren
Northern House Wrens have little to no eyebrow stripe and lack the Rock Wren's fine gray-black speckling on the back and wings. Northern House Wrens occur in a great variety of habitats, while Rock Wrens are more restricted to dry, rocky areas.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 08, 2013
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