Bay Wren
Cantorchilus nigricapillus
Silhouette: Matt Wilkins · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyTroglodytidae (Wrens)
- GenusCantorchilus (Cantorchilus Wrens)
- SpeciesCantorchilus nigricapillus (Bay Wren)
About the Bay Wren
The bay wren (Cantorchilus nigricapillus) is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is native to southern Central America and northwestern South America. The bay wren has sometimes been treated as conspecific with the riverside wren (Cantorchilus semibadius) but their plumages are quite different as are DNA analyses. Some authors consider the two of them a superspecies but others deny that close relationship.
The bay wren has seven subspecies: C. n. costaricensis Sharpe (1882) C. n. castaneus Lawrence (1861) C. n. odicus Wetmore (1959) C. n. reditus Griscom (1932) C. n. schottii Baird (1864) C. n. connectens Chapman (1912) C. n. nigricapillus Sclater (1860)
The Clements taxonomy combines the first five as the "Central American" group and the last two as the "South American" group. Other authors include schottii in the South American group. The bay wren is 12.6 to 15.6 cm (5.0 to 6.1 in) long. Eight specimens from Panama weighed 17.7 to 26.3 g (0.62 to 0.93 oz). Adults of the nominate subspecies have a black face with a narrow white supercilium, a partial eyering, and a white patch at the back of the cheek. Their crown and... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Darién National Park
Buff-breasted Wren
Cantorchilus leucotis
Stripe-throated Wren
Cantorchilus leucopogon
Cabanis's Wren
Cantorchilus modestus
Black-bellied Wren
Pheugopedius fasciatoventris
Southern House Wren
Troglodytes musculus
White-headed Wren
Campylorhynchus albobrunneus
White-breasted Wood-Wren
Henicorhina leucosticta
Rufous-and-white Wren
Thryophilus rufalbus
Bicolored Wren
Campylorhynchus griseus
Scaly-breasted Wren
Microcerculus marginatus
Sooty-headed Wren
Pheugopedius spadix
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
Henicorhina leucophrys
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Lorenzo Protected Forest | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 2 | Cahuita National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | Tenorio Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 5 | Bastimentos Island National Marine Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 6 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 7 | Utría National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 8 | Arenal Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 9 | Farallones de Cali National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 10 | Chagres National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 11 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 12 | Tortuguero National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 13 | Darién National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 14 | Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 15 | Soberanía National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 16 | Parque Natural Metropolitano | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 17 | Rincón de la Vieja National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 18 | Machalilla National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 19 | Poás Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 20 | Los Nevados National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Bay Wren in Darién National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Bay Wren sighting in Darién National Park, based on 256 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Bay Wren in Darién National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Bay Wren in Darién National Park in our monthly data.