MARSH WREN
MARSH WREN – (Cistothorus palustris) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: The Marsh Wren adult has brown upper parts with finely barred wings and tail. Tail is often cocked. There is a grey-beige eyebrow. Throat and breast are light grey, under parts are chestnut-like. Bill is brown on top, yellowish under. Legs and feet are pinkish grey. Eyes are brown. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has duller colors with less markings. Bird length is about 10 cm (4 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Cistothorus-palustris
NAME: ‘Wren’ derives from Old English. ‘Marsh’ refers to the bird’s habitat. Latin genus name ‘Cistothorus’ means ‘running through shrubs’. Latin species name ‘palustris’ means ‘marshy’.
HABITAT: Marshlands.
DIET: Insects for the most part, some spiders.
NESTING: Nest is a woven structure with a side entrance above water. To protect their territory adults may destroy eggs of other marsh birds, including their own species. Many dummy nests are built. Between four and six beige eggs are laid, incubated by female. Chicks fed by both parents.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeding range includes central Canada and northern half of the USA (except Rockies). Wintering grounds cover Florida, southwest USA and Mexico.
Distribution Map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_wren – /media/File:Cistothorus_palustris_map.svg
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, sightings listed as ‘accidental’ so far. See note below on bird vagrancy.
CONSERVATION: Population widespread, currently not at risk.
Vagrancy: In biology this means an animal going way outside its normal range. For birds, this can happen when there are storms and they get blown off course. On other times, the bird simply wanders in a different direction than usual. Here’s an article about vagrancy in birds.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Winter Wren, House Wren, Sedge Wren
REFERENCES: https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/marsh-wren
https://www.mba-aom.ca/jsp/toc.jsp (Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas)
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/137/overview/Marsh_Wren.aspx
http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABPBG10020 (Montana Field Guide)
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cistothorus_palustris/ (University of Michigan)
https://txtbba.tamu.edu/species-accounts/marsh-wren/ (Texas Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://birdatlas.mb.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=MAWR&lang=en (Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/birds/waterbirds/marsh-wren.html (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Marsh_Wren/lifehistory
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/marsh-wren
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-attract-wrens-386269
DESCRIPTION: The Marsh Wren adult has brown upper parts with finely barred wings and tail. Tail is often cocked. There is a grey-beige eyebrow. Throat and breast are light grey, under parts are chestnut-like. Bill is brown on top, yellowish under. Legs and feet are pinkish grey. Eyes are brown. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has duller colors with less markings. Bird length is about 10 cm (4 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Cistothorus-palustris
NAME: ‘Wren’ derives from Old English. ‘Marsh’ refers to the bird’s habitat. Latin genus name ‘Cistothorus’ means ‘running through shrubs’. Latin species name ‘palustris’ means ‘marshy’.
HABITAT: Marshlands.
DIET: Insects for the most part, some spiders.
NESTING: Nest is a woven structure with a side entrance above water. To protect their territory adults may destroy eggs of other marsh birds, including their own species. Many dummy nests are built. Between four and six beige eggs are laid, incubated by female. Chicks fed by both parents.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeding range includes central Canada and northern half of the USA (except Rockies). Wintering grounds cover Florida, southwest USA and Mexico.
Distribution Map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_wren – /media/File:Cistothorus_palustris_map.svg
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, sightings listed as ‘accidental’ so far. See note below on bird vagrancy.
CONSERVATION: Population widespread, currently not at risk.
Vagrancy: In biology this means an animal going way outside its normal range. For birds, this can happen when there are storms and they get blown off course. On other times, the bird simply wanders in a different direction than usual. Here’s an article about vagrancy in birds.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Winter Wren, House Wren, Sedge Wren
REFERENCES: https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/marsh-wren
https://www.mba-aom.ca/jsp/toc.jsp (Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas)
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/137/overview/Marsh_Wren.aspx
http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABPBG10020 (Montana Field Guide)
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cistothorus_palustris/ (University of Michigan)
https://txtbba.tamu.edu/species-accounts/marsh-wren/ (Texas Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://birdatlas.mb.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=MAWR&lang=en (Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas)
https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/birds/waterbirds/marsh-wren.html (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Marsh_Wren/lifehistory
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/marsh-wren
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-attract-wrens-386269
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| Marsh wren, QC, by Cephas |
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| Marsh wren, BC, by tgreyfox |