Adult has a mostly dark cinnamon-brown upperparts, with the nape and crown tinged with gray. Spiky tail is paler rufous with narrow dark barring. Dorsally mottled with small white and black spots, which are most dense on the nape and crown. Wings are dark cinnamon with dense dusky barring. Coverts are more faintly barred with some white spotting. Throat upper breast are white, transitioning to medium cinnamon-brown on lower breast and belly. Long thin bill is nearly the length of the head and slightly drooped over the outer third. Found in same habitats as Rock Wren, but note reddish plumage and distinctive voice.

Length: 14 (cm) Wingspan: 19 (cm)

Voice:

Far-carrying, echoing series of cascading whistles. Starts with fast burst of high notes and slows towards the end with several low, grating notes. Call is a harsh, metallic note.

Habitat:

Cliffs, canyons, rimrocks, rock walls.

Behavior:

Crawls along rock faces, sometimes perching on exposed boulders or lookout points. Nest is in a woven cup of plant fibers placed in crevice among rocks. Usually seen alone or in pairs.

Feeding:

Forages by gleaning rocks for insects and spiders.