This is a large, rather conspicuous wren, easily detected by its loud, melodious song. It is known to sing antiphonally
in duets or choruses. Three distinct subspecies groups have been recognized. Following recommendations by Vázquez-Miranda
et al. (Auk 126:765-778, 2009), these groups have been elevated into three full species by HBW and by IOC:
- Sclater's Wren (C. humilis) - West Mexico
- Rufous-naped Wren (C. rufinucha) - East Mexico
- Rufous-backed Wren (C. capistratus) - (Southern Mexico to Costa Rica)
Under this taxonomy, our bird is a Rufous-backed Wren. However, I prefer the AOU/Clements/H&M4 taxonomy
which follows a more conservative biological species concept. They continue to lump the three groups into a single
species with our bird being a member of the rufous backed group. This is the southernmost race, C. r. capistratus
which ranges along the Pacific coast from Honduras and El Salvador south to northwest Costa Rica. It is characterized
by dark and whitish bars and streaks on its lower back and a distinctly barred tail, all visible here. Canon PowerShot
SX50 HS
References:
Bradley, D. W. and Daniel J. Mennill. 2011. Rufous-naped Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha), version 1.0.
In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.runwre1.01
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Kirwan, G.M. (2018). Rufous-backed Wren (Campylorhynchus capistratus). In:
del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds
of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/1343995
on 6 January 2018).
Sosa-López, J.R., Mennill, D.J. & Navarro-Sigüenza, A.G. (2013) Geographic variation and the evolution
of song in Mesoamerican rufous-naped wrens Campylorhynchus rufinucha. J. Avian Biol. 43(1): 1–12.
Vázquez-Miranda, H., Navarro-Sigüenza, A.G. & Omland, K.E. (2009) Phylogeography of the Rufous-naped
Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha): speciation and hybridization in Mesoamerica. Auk 126(4): 765–778.