Cactus Wren posing on some Teddy-Bear Cholla at Joshua Tree National Park.
Cactus Wrens are really neat birds. They’re quite large by wren standards, have beautifully patterned plumage, and a haunting clicking call that echoes from the desert hillsides.
Teddy-Bear Cholla is no joke. Its sharp spines stick to clothing, skin, or shoes if you even look at it too closely. This is actually how it reproduces: via pieces breaking off and hitching a ride on unsuspecting passersby.
Likely because of its danger to other animals, cholla cacti are Cactus Wrens’ favorite perches. When it isn’t available, they prefer other prickly cacti. This likely helps keep them safe from predators. Desert woodrats have a similar adaptation, using collected bits of cholla to fortify the entrances to their nests. Life in the desert is tough!