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Difference between revisions of "Marsh Wren" - BirdForum Opus

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;Cistothorus palustris
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[[Image:Marsh_Wren.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|Skean|Skean}} <br/>Plum Island, Newburyport, [[Massachusetts]], [[USA]], June 2005]]
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[[Image:Marsh_Wren.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Skean]]
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;[[:Category:Cistothorus|Cistothorus]] palustris
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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Photographed on Plum Island, Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA in June 2005
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[[Image:Marsh Wren Anahuac NWR.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''thryophilus''<br />Photo by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />[[Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge]], Chambers County, [[Texas]], [[USA]], December 2017 ]]
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The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) is a small songbird of the wren family.
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11·5–12·5 cm (4½-5 in); A small, stocky wren with a relatively long bill and relatively bright, contrasting markings.
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*Brown upperparts
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*Light brown belly and flanks
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*White throat and breast
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*Black back with white stripes
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*Dark cap
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*White [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]]
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*Short thin bill
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*Relatively long, pinkish legs adapted for grasping vertical reeds
  
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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.
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==Distribution==
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[[File:Marsh_Wren_BackPlmg_JRCMN.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Back Plumage<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|jrcummins84|jrcummins84}}<br />[[Horicon Marsh]] State - National Wildlife Refuge<br />Mayville, [[Wisconsin]], [[USA]], 14 May 2021]]
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[[United States]] and [[Mexico]]. See Taxonomy section for detailed distribution of subspecies.
  
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==Distribution==
 
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In the western United States, some birds are permanent residents. Other birds migrate to marshes and salt marshes in the southern United States and Mexico.
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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[[File:Marsh_Wren_Flight_DJOD.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Flight<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|DJ+ODonnell|DJ ODonnell}}<br />Loveland, [[Colorado]], [[USA]], 23 May 2021]]
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====Subspecues====
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Fourteen or fifteen subspecies are recognized:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
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* ''C. p. browningi'' - Coastal marshes of sw [[British Columbia]] to c [[Washington]]
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* ''C. p. paludicola'' - sw [[Washington]] to nw [[Oregon]]
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* ''C. p. pulverius'' - c [[British Columbia]] and [[Idaho]] to ne [[California]] and nw [[Nevada]]
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* ''C. p. plesius'' - se [[Idaho]] to [[Colorado]] and [[New Mexico]]; winters to c [[Mexico]]
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* ''C. p. laingi'' - w-central [[Canada]] to [[Montana]]; winters to s [[Mexico]]
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* ''C. p. iliacus'' - w-central [[Canada]] to w-central [[USA]]; winters to Gulf Coast
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* ''C. p. dissaeptus'' - s-central [[Canada]] to n-central [[USA]]; winters to ne [[Mexico]]
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* ''C. p. clarkae'' - Coastal c [[California]] to n-central [[USA]]; winters to ne [[Mexico]]
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* ''C. p. aestuarinus'' - s [[California]] (inland valleys), s [[Nevada]], sw [[Arizona]]
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* ''C. p. deserticola'' - s [[California]] (deserts)
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* ''C. p. palustris'' - New England to [[Virginia]]
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* ''C. p. waynei'' - s [[Virginia]] to [[North Carolina]]
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* ''C. p. griseus'' - ne [[South Carolina]] to e-central [[Florida]]
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* ''C. p. marianae (thryophilus)'' - e [[Texas]] to sw [[Florida]]
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* ''C. p. tolucensis'' - c [[Mexico]]]
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A study shows genetic divisions within this species possibly indicating a future split.
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Subspecies ''deserticola'' is not recognised by all authorities.<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Their breeding habitat is marshes with tall vegetation such as cattails across North America.
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This species occurs almost exclusively in marshes with tall vegetation.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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The nest is an oval lump attached to marsh vegetation, entered from the side. The male builds many unused nests in his territory; he may puncture the eggs of other birds nesting nearby.
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Solitary or in pairs.  Tends to remain hidden in tall reed grasses; most often heard rather than seen.  Forages within the reeds for food.  The males often appear perched on vertical reeds and singing emphatically.  Has been known to destroy the eggs of other birds nesting in the grasses, and having its own eggs vandalized in turn.
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====Breeding====
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[[Dictionary_P-S#P|Polygamous]].  The male builds several globular nests attached to the reeds with side doors; the female chooses one and finishes construction, lining it with feathers and plant material. The nests can be in colonies if the breeding population is dense enough. Incubation of eggs is 12-16 days, by the female.  Young stay in nest 11-16 days.  Two broods per year.
  
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These birds forage actively in vegetation, sometimes flying up to catch insects in flight. They mainly eat insects, also spiders and snails.
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====Diet====
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Includes insects, spiders and snails, and sometimes other birds' eggs.
  
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The male's song is a loud gurgle used to declare ownership of territory; western males have a more varied repertoire.
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====Vocalisation====
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'''Song''': Complex trilling and gurgling songs, with a wide repertoire, especially among the western subspecies.  Also sings at night.<br />
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'''Call''': An abrasive ''tuk'', similar to the flight calls of some blackbirds, or ''te-suk-te-suk''.  Other rattling or chirring calls are possible from within the wide vocal range of this species.
  
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This bird is still common, although its numbers have declined with the loss of suitable wetland habitat.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Avibase
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#[http://www.barcodeoflife.org/barcode/batsbirds/literature/MEN1670_final.pdf Paper] describing genetic findings with this species
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
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{{GSearch|"Cistothorus palustris" {{!}} "Marsh Wren"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
  
  
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==External Links==
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cistothorus]]
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{{GSearch|Cistothorus+palustris}}
 
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[[Category:Birds]]
 

Latest revision as of 21:39, 8 June 2023

Photo by Skean
Plum Island, Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA, June 2005
Cistothorus palustris

Identification

Subspecies thryophilus
Photo by Stanley Jones
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County, Texas, USA, December 2017

11·5–12·5 cm (4½-5 in); A small, stocky wren with a relatively long bill and relatively bright, contrasting markings.

  • Brown upperparts
  • Light brown belly and flanks
  • White throat and breast
  • Black back with white stripes
  • Dark cap
  • White supercilium
  • Short thin bill
  • Relatively long, pinkish legs adapted for grasping vertical reeds

Distribution

Back Plumage
Photo © by jrcummins84
Horicon Marsh State - National Wildlife Refuge
Mayville, Wisconsin, USA, 14 May 2021

United States and Mexico. See Taxonomy section for detailed distribution of subspecies.

Taxonomy

Flight
Photo © by DJ ODonnell
Loveland, Colorado, USA, 23 May 2021

Subspecues

Fourteen or fifteen subspecies are recognized:[1]

A study shows genetic divisions within this species possibly indicating a future split.

Subspecies deserticola is not recognised by all authorities.[2]

Habitat

This species occurs almost exclusively in marshes with tall vegetation.

Behaviour

Solitary or in pairs. Tends to remain hidden in tall reed grasses; most often heard rather than seen. Forages within the reeds for food. The males often appear perched on vertical reeds and singing emphatically. Has been known to destroy the eggs of other birds nesting in the grasses, and having its own eggs vandalized in turn.

Breeding

Polygamous. The male builds several globular nests attached to the reeds with side doors; the female chooses one and finishes construction, lining it with feathers and plant material. The nests can be in colonies if the breeding population is dense enough. Incubation of eggs is 12-16 days, by the female. Young stay in nest 11-16 days. Two broods per year.

Diet

Includes insects, spiders and snails, and sometimes other birds' eggs.

Vocalisation

Song: Complex trilling and gurgling songs, with a wide repertoire, especially among the western subspecies. Also sings at night.
Call: An abrasive tuk, similar to the flight calls of some blackbirds, or te-suk-te-suk. Other rattling or chirring calls are possible from within the wide vocal range of this species.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Paper describing genetic findings with this species

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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