Marsh Wren
Cistothorus palustris

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Cistothorus

Audio for Species

Call
Song

from Macaulay Library

Species Related Links

Additional Marsh Wren Pictures

Description

Length: 3.9-5.5 in (10-14 cm) Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-14 g) Wing length: 1.76-1.91 in (4.47-4.85 cm)

They have a bold white supercilium, the crown is dark brown. The upperparts are brown and a black back with white streaks. A white throat and breast; raw sienna belly and flanks. The wings and tail are barred with black.

Habitat, Range, and Feeding

They nest in marshes with dense reeds and cattails. Their nest are made of grasses and sedges, and are tied to the cattails or reeds. The male will build several nests; then escort the female around each site and she will choose the one she prefers. She will line the nest of her choice with down and soft cattail leaves for the eggs. The clutch size is 3 to 10 eggs, that are brown with darker brown spots.

They feed on insects and spiders.