Cactus Wren Diet

The cactus wren, the state bird of Arizona, is a very stout, hardy and curious bird. It is one of the few birds suited to survive in the harsh desert climate of the Southwestern U.S. It makes its home in the thorny skyscrapers of the desert, the Saguaro cactus. Should you ever find yourself in charge of the care of one of these fascinating birds, you will need to know what it eats. The cactus wren's diet is simple, but filled with bugs and others.

  1. Cactus Wren Diet

    • Feed your cactus wren its favorite meal of fresh, live insects. The cactus wren is an omnivore, though most of its diet is made up of insects. The bird finds its food by foraging on the ground. As an insectivore, the bird will eat any of a number of ants, beetles, grasshoppers and wasps that are native to the desert area. These insects include fire ants, cicadas, wolf spiders, harvester ants, blister beetles, stinkbugs, assassin bugs and dragonflies. As an omnivore, the cactus wren will eat lizards and amphibians, but only occasionally. Additionally, it may eat fruits and seeds if no other food sources are present. As a natural adaptation to the desert climate, the cactus wren gets almost all of its water from the consumption of prey. Because of the aforementioned fact, the cactus wren does not need, nor will it drink, freestanding water.