Cistothorus palustris
adult
The Marsh Wren is a richly colorful songbird. The sexes are similar. Adults have reddish-brown upperparts with a few bold white streaks on the back (fewer but bolder than in the Sedge Wren. The underparts are pale but with a buffish-orange suffusion on the flanks. The wings and tail show subtle barring. The cheeks are buffish brown with white speckling, and there is a pale supercilium. Juveniles are similar to adults but are less strikingly marked and less colorful.
The Marsh Wren is present as a breeding species across much of northern central North America, mainly from May to August. It is present year-round in a few locations (generally coastal), but most birds move south to southern U.S.A. and Mexico for the winter. The species is rather secretive and a challenge to observe. Fortunately, it is vocal and its presence can be detected by listening for its call and song.
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5 in (12.5 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates
HABITAT Cattail (Typha spp.) marshes
STATUS Locally common migrant in both summer and winter
VOICE Song is variable but typically includes fluty, warbling notes; the tone is more liquid than the rasping notes of Sedge Wren. Calls include a sharp tchut
