cactus wren

American  

noun

1. any American wren of the genus Campylorhynchus, of arid regions, especially C. brunneicapillus, of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.

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Etymology

Origin of cactus wren

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

Official state bird: cactus wren Cactus Wren is like the only boring bird in the entire state.

From Slate • May 17, 2013

There was nothing except the keening wind and the rasping call of a cactus wren somewhere in the rocks.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

The cactus wren and crissal thrasher build in the geographical centres of tree choyas, so protected by 500,000 spines that no hawk or owl can reach them.

From The Minds and Manners of Wild Animals A Book of Personal Observations by Hornaday, William Temple