Marsh Wren

The Marsh Wren is a small North American songbird of the wren family. It is sometimes called Long-billed Marsh Wren to distinguish it from the Sedge Wren, also known as Short-billed Marsh Wren.

The Marsh Wren is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris Order PASSERIFORMES – Family TROGLODYTIDAE Issue No. 308 Authors: Kroodsma, Donald E., and Jared Verner * Articles * Multimedia * References Courtesy Preview This Introductory article that you are viewing is a courtesy preview of the full life history account of this species. The remaining articles (Distribution, Habitat, Behavior, etc. More

The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) is a small North American songbird of the wren family. It is sometimes called Long-billed Marsh Wren to distinguish it from the Sedge Wren, also known as Short-billed Marsh Wren. Adults have brown upperparts with a light brown belly and flanks and a white throat and breast. The back is black with white stripes. They have a dark cap with a white line over the eyes and a short thin bill. More

Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris Bay Wren Thryothorus nigricapillus House Wren Troglodytes musculus Timberline Wren Thryorchilus browni Revised following Martínez Gómez et al. (2005) and Mann et al. (2006). The taxonomy of some groups is highly complex, and future species-level splits are likely. Additionally, undescribed taxa are known to exist. The Black-capped Donacobius is an enigmatic species traditionally placed with the wrens more for lack of a more apparent alternative and/or thorough study. More

Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris The Marsh Wren is a common resident or variably uncommon to common transient and winter visitor depending on locality (Small, 1994). Pacific coast populations are year round residents, but from the Great Basin east, populations abandon breeding sites in more northern marshes for more temperate locations farther south (Grinnell and Miller, 1944). The Marsh Wren requires freshwater or brackish marshes for breeding. More

* The Marsh Wren is a secretive bird; even when singing the territorial male remains well hidden, briefly climbing a cattail for a look at an intruder. * Males destroy eggs and nestlings of neighboring birds. They will even attack their own eggs if the female is removed from the nest. This behavior reduces competition for food in their area. More

Marsh Wren Range MapView dynamic map of eBird sightings Field MarksHelp - * AdultPopOutZoom In Adult * © Marie Read Similar Species - * Sedge Wren has similar streaks on back, but is paler, has a paler, streaked crown, and has a less distinct eyestripe. More

* long-billed marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris — American wren that inhabits tall reed beds * sedge wren, short-billed marsh wren, Cistothorus platensis — small American wren inhabiting wet sedgy meadows - ... More

* Marsh Wren Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding * Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter * Marsh Wren Bird Sound This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. More

Above: A Marsh Wren at Swan Creek in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/24/2007). This species is pretty scarce in the northern part of the county, so it was great to see this likely nester. Below: A Marsh Wren along the Nanticoke River in Wicomico Co., Maryland (7/27/2007). Listen to audio (Dorchester Co., Maryland, 7/5/2009) - With Seaside Sparrow and Virginia Rail Below: Another Marsh Wren singing in Wicomico Co. More

The prairie marsh wren is naturally not evenly distributed throughout its wide range. Marshes of the type it requires are often widely scattered, or entirely lacking over large areas. Small, isolated marshes of less than an acre in extent are usually avoided, but where the larger marshes contain suitable vegetation the wrens may be very numerous and their nests more so. More

North American RangeThe Marsh Wren is usually not seen for long, as it pops up from dense emergent vegetation, only to duck back out of sight moments later. Small and stocky, with the classic wren tail held upright, the Marsh Wren is easily identified as a wren. The upperparts are brown with a black patch streaked with white, and the tail is barred with black. More

Marsh Wren Habitat Model go to: USFWS Gulf of Maine Watershed Habitat Analysis go to: Species Table Feedback: We welcome your suggestions on improving this model! Draft Date: February 2002 Species: Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris Use of Study Area Resources: Reproduction. Marsh wrens breed from ... More

Breeding distribution of the Marsh Wren in the United States and southern Canada, based on Breeding Bird Survey data, 1985-1991. Scale represents average number of individuals detected per route per year. Map from Price, J., S. Droege, and A. Price. 1995. The summer atlas of North American birds. Academic Press, London, England. 364 pages. - Key to management is maintaining wetlands that have dense stands of emergent vegetation. More

Marsh Wren nests are domed structures attached to several stems of emergent marsh vegetation such as cattails or bulrushes. Early-season nests are usually placed between 1 1/2 and 3 feet above water, and higher later in the season. Strips of cattail leaves, grass or other stems up to a foot long are woven into a hollow ball about 7" tall and 5" wide with an entrance hole near the top on one side. More

I have never seen a Marsh Wren before!!! I love the pose of this one with the yellow beak wide opened and the tail raised. He seems to be wanting to be fed. An adorable shot showing off his face and feathers in good detail. A beautiful background and vertical composition. More

Photo by Thomas Schultz Marsh Wren by Thomas SchultzMarsh Wren distribution map Status/Protection * Global Rank: G5 Key to global and state ranks * State Rank: S4B * WBCI Priority: PIF Population Information Federal BBS information can be obtained at http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/bbs.html by clicking on Trend Estimates and selecting the species in question. All estimates are for 1966-2005. More