Laura Erickson's For the Birds

This wren can be hard to see, but its beautiful song carries a long distance. It’s extremely well-adapted to its tricky lifestyle on steep canyons. Its vertebral column is attached higher on the skull than on most birds; that plus its slightly flattened skull allows it to thrust its bill forward into tight crevices while foraging for insects without bumping its head. Its low center of gravity, large feet, and sharp claws help it move up, down, and across even surprisingly smooth rocks. And it is not known to drink any water, surviving entirely on the water content of its insect prey.