29-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - RUFOUS BACKED WREN (Campylorhynchus capistratus)

The rufous-backed wren, a member of the Troglodytidae family, is a songbird that captivates with its striking plumage. Adults measure around 17 cm in length and tip the scales between 29 to 42 grams. They boast a black crown and eyestripe, which are elegantly offset by a white supercilium. Their nape is a warm rufous, while the upperparts are a blend of cinnamon to chestnut, adorned with black and white streaks, particularly noticeable on the rump. Wings and tail feature a barred pattern of black and greyish-white, and the underparts are a pristine white. Juveniles present with more subdued upperparts and buff underparts.

To identify the rufous-backed wren, look for the distinctive black crown and eyestripe, separated by a white supercilium. The rufous nape and streaked upperparts with black and white, especially on the rump, are key characteristics. The barred wings and tail, along with the white underparts, are also indicative of this species.

This wren favours dry forests, open woodlands, scrub, second growth, and savannas. It thrives mainly on the Pacific side of central mountain ranges, from sea level up to 800 meters in Costa Rica and up to 1,400 meters in El Salvador.

The rufous-backed wren is a resident breeding bird found from southwest Mexico to northwestern Costa Rica. Its range is divided among six subspecies, each occupying distinct geographical areas within this region.

The rufous-backed wren is known for its active foraging in low vegetation, often in pairs or family groups. It has adapted to living near human settlements and may occasionally indulge in table scraps. When handling prey, these wrens exhibit a behaviour of thrashing it with their beak before consumption.

The song of the rufous-backed wren is a delightful composition of melodic, pure-tone syllables with multiple frequency changes, forming phrases that vary slightly among subspecies. Their calls are equally diverse, with a wide range even within each subspecies.

Breeding rufous-backed wrens construct spherical nests with a side entrance, lined with seed down, and placed 1.5 to 8 meters high in thorny trees or shrubs. They sometimes nest near wasps for protection against predators. The female incubates the eggs, which are white or greenish with brown or black spots, for about two weeks, and the fledglings leave the nest after a similar period. Families often roost together in dormitory nests post-breeding.

The diet of the rufous-backed wren primarily consists of insects and other invertebrates, which they actively seek out in low vegetation.

The IUCN has classified the rufous-backed wren as Least Concern. Although the population has not been quantified since the species was split, it is suspected to be stable with no significant declines or threats.

21-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - RUFOUS BACKED WREN (Campylorhynchus capistratus)

The rufous-backed wren (Campylorhynchus capistratus) is a songbird of the family Troglodytidae. It is a resident breeding species from southwest Mexico to northwestern Costa Rica.

What is now the rufous-backed wren was previously treated as six of the eight subspecies of rufous-naped wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha). A 2009 publication proposed that Campylorhynchus rufinucha (sensu lato) be split into three species and the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) accepted the splits. What had been C. r. humilis was elevated to species status as Sclater's wren. The reduced C. rufinucha received the new English name Veracruz wren and the other six subspecies became subspecies of rufous-backed wren.

BirdLife International (BLI) has implemented the split but retains the English name rufous-naped wren for C. rufinucha. However, the North American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (NACC/AOS) and the Clements taxonomy have not accepted the split as of early 2021.

The IUCN has assessed the rufous-backed wren as being of Least Concern. "The population has not been quantified since the species was split" but "is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats."

The six subspecies of rufous-backed wren accepted by the IOC are:

C. c. nigricaudatus Nelson (1897)

C. c. capistratus Lesson (1842)

C. c. xerophilus Griscom (1930)

C. c. castaneus Ridgway (1888)

C. c. nicaraguae Miller, W. & Griscom (1925)

C. c. nicoyae Phillips (1986)

The last of these has not been accepted by the Clements taxonomy.

The adult rufous-backed wren is 17 cm (6.7 in) long and weighs 29 to 42 g (1.0 to 1.5 oz). There is some variation among the subspecies but generally they have a black crown and eyestripe separated by a white supercilium, a rufous nape, and cinnamon to chestnut upperparts streaked with black and white, especially on the rump. The wings and tail are barred with black and grayish-white. The underparts are white. Young birds have duller upperparts and buff underparts.

The six subspecies of rufous-backed wren are found thus:

C. c. nigricaudatus, the Pacific coastal plain from southwestern Chiapas, Mexico into Guatemala

C. c. capistratus, the Pacific coastal plain from Guatemala south into El Salvador

C. c. xerophilus, the Motagua Valley of Guatemala

C. c. castaneus, interior Guatemala east to Honduras and Nicaragua

C. c. nicaraguae, interior of western Nicaragua

C. c. nicoyae, the Nicoya Peninsula of northwestern Costa Rica

This large wren occurs in lowlands and foothills from sea level up to 800 m (2,600 ft) elevation in Costa Rica and as high as 1,400 m (4,600 ft) in El Salvador. It inhabits dry forest or open woodland, scrub, second growth and savanna, mainly on the Pacific side of the central mountain ranges.

The rufous-backed wren forages actively in low vegetation for insects and other invertebrates, in pairs or family groups. They have adapted to live near humans and sometimes take table scraps. When attempting to consume prey, they may thrash it around with their beak before eating.

The rufous-backed wren's spherical nest has a side entrance and is lined with seed down. It is constructed 1.5 to 8 m (4.9–26.2 ft) high in thorny trees or shrubs, especially bull's-horn acacia. This species sometimes nests close to the nests of wasps and there is experimental evidence that those that do so are afforded substantial protection from predation. The female alone incubates the three to five brown- or black-spotted, white or greenish eggs for about two weeks until hatching, and the young fledge after about the same length of time again. After breeding, families sleep together in dormitory nests like those used for breeding.

The rufous-backed wren's songs vary somewhat among subspecies but the basic structure is "melodic, pure-tone syllables with multiple frequency changes combined into phrases."