- Cistothorus platensis
Includes: Grass Wren
Identification
10-12cm. Brown upperparts, light brown belly and flanks, white throat and breast. The back has pale streaks. Dark cap with pale streaks, a faint line over the eye and a short thin bill. Sexes alike. Very hard to see, much easier to locate by sound.
Distribution
Main breeding range in the U.S. from North Dakota and southern Manitoba east to southwestern Ontario and Michigan south to eastern Nebraska east to Indiana. Localized in Ohio, New York, Vermont and New Jersey. Winters in eastern Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Florida.
Further south over Mexico and Central America over most of South America, including the Falkland Islands.
Taxonomy
There are numerous subspecies. These can be devided into two main groups which sometimes are considered as separate species: The Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) from North America and the Grass Wren (Cistothorus platensis) from South America. Additionally, the latter can be divided into two subgroups which may require recognition as separate species: the platensis group of southern South America and the aequatorialis group of the Andes and other mountains in northern South America.
Habitat
Wet meadows and marsh edges.
Behaviour
The male builds the nest which is rounded, with a side entrance, well hidden, and attached to low vegetation. 2-8 white eggs are laid.
The diet includes insects and spiders.