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Morphology

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The Marsh Wren is a small wren, ranging from 10.4 and 14.0 cm in total length and weighing between 9.0 and 14.0 grams. Males and females have similar plumage. This species has a black crown, white superciliary stripes, warm-brown upperparts with faint black bars, a black and white striped triangular region on the upper back, buffy sides and breast, whitish below, and dark barring on the tail. Marsh Wrens have brown eyes, pale brown feet and legs, and a brownish bill. Males are larger than females, though body size varies geographically. Juvenile plumage is similar to adult plumage except there are fewer black markings on back, the superciliary stripe is faint or absent, and wings are only faintly barred (Kroodsma and Verner 1997).

Range mass: 9 to 14 g.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Habitat

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Marsh Wrens use a variety of wetland habitats. Cattails and bulbrush is the vegetation that dominates most Marsh Wren habitat. This wren occurs in salt and brackish marshes in addition to freshwater sites. The habitat of the winter range is similar to that of the breeding range (Kroodsma and Verner 1997).

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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Distribution

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The breeding range of the Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) extends west from the Atlantic coast to Nebraska and North from southern Illinois to northwestern. In the western United States C. palustris is a year round resident. There are also breeding and resident populations along coasts of the southern Atlantic and Gulf states. The wintering range extends south from the southwestern states of New Mexico, Arizona and Texas and into Mexico; Florida is also a wintering ground for Marsh Wrens (Kroodsma and Verner 1997).

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Trophic Strategy

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Marsh Wrens mainly eat invertebrates, especially insects (e.g. bees, ants, wasps, beetles, and moths) and spiders as well as aquatic invertebrates in freshwater marshes. Foraging occurs on or near the marsh floor; Marsh Wrens glean insects from stems and leaves of vegetation and the water's surface. Some birds may forage in thickets or shrub patches that occur near the marsh (Kroodsma and Verner 1997).

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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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Unknown.

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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Systematics

There are two distinct groups of Marsh Wrens in North America and 14 subspecies. The two groups are divided into eastern and western populations largely on the basis of vocal characteristics, although there are differences in color, pattern, size and molt (Kroodsma and Verner 1997).
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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Behavior

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Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Conservation Status

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Habitat degradation is the greatest threat to Marsh Wren vitality, although some migrants are killed every year in collisions with communication towers and other structures. Destruction of marshes and wetlands used by Marsh Wrens as breeding or wintering grounds results in a great reduction in numbers in the area. Marsh Wrens readily colonize newly created or restored wetland habitats, however, resulting in increasing population sizes in some areas (e.g. high numbers of Marsh Wrens were found in marshes created by dam construction along the Colorado River) (Kroodsma and Verner 1997). Marsh wrens are a species of special concern in Michigan.

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: special concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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Conservation concerns may prevent development of wetland habitat.

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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Terry Root, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Reproduction

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Marsh Wrens are polygynous, but the percentage of males mating with more than one female varies among populations (e.g. in Georgia 5% of males had more than one mate, while 41-54% of males in Manitoba had more than one female). Timing of pair formation is variable depending on population and year. Males begin singing within one to two days of their arrival on the breeding grounds. In migrant populations females usually arrive on breeding grounds seven to ten days after males and then mate with males a few days after their arrival.

Males build numerous, single-opening dome-shaped nests on their territory prior to female arrival. Female choice is dependent upon territory quality and nesting status of other females (i.e. females tend to prefer unmated males). When a female approaches a male's territory he flies over to her and sings. If she enters his territory the male will show her several nests he has constructed, and if she chooses to mate with the male she may line a nest with strips of grass, small stems, cattail downs, feathers and rootlets or she may build an entirely new nest (Kroodsma and Verner 1997).

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous

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Lesperance, M. 2001. "Cistothorus palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cistothorus_palustris.html
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Michelle Lesperance, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Cistothorus palustris

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Slightly smaller than the similarly-shaped Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), the Marsh Wren is most easily identified by its size (5 inches), white eye-stripes, and white-striped back. Other field marks include a curved bill, short tail, and short wings. Male and female Marsh Wrens are similar to one another in all seasons. The Marsh Wren has two distinct breeding populations, mainly differentiated by differences in song patterns. One breeds in the eastern U.S., south-central Canada, and along the Gulf Coast. The other breeds from the Pacific coast of the U.S. east to the western Plains. Most birds breeding in the northeastern U.S. and Canada migrate to coastal areas of the southeastern U.S. in winter, while some western birds winter in the desert southwest and in Mexico. Most western Marsh Wrens, as well as coastal-breeding birds in the east, are non-migratory. Appropriately, the Marsh Wren inhabits a variety of marshland and wet grassland habitats across North America. The majority of Marsh Wrens breed in freshwater marshes, but coastal birds inhabit brackish or saltwater marshes as well. This species eats a variety of insects found in the water, on the blades of marsh grasses, or in the air. Due to this species’ preference for heavily-vegetated marshland habitats, the Marsh Wren is often more easily heard than seen. Male Marsh Wrens may be seen singing while perched atop marsh vegetation. With the aid of binoculars, Marsh Wrens may be seen while partially hidden in the undergrowth, climbing stalks of grasses while foraging for food. Marsh Wrens may also be seen undertaking short flights above the grass. This species is primarily active during the day.

Threat Status: Least Concern

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Reid Rumelt

Habitat

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Marsh wrens inhabit freshwater and saltwater marshes, usually nesting in association with bulrushes, cattails, and sedges or on occasion in mangroves (Welter, 1935; Bent, 1948; Kale, 1965; Verner, 1965). Standing water from several centimeters to nearly a meter is typical of the areas selected (Bent, 1948). Permanent water is necessary to provide a food supply of insects necessary to maintain the birds and as a defense against predation (Verner and Engelsen, 1970). Deeper water and denser vegetation are associated with reduced predation rates (Leonard and Picman, 1987).

Brief Summary

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The marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris) is a common bird inhabiting freshwater cattail marshes and salt marshes. Marsh wrens breed throughout most of the northern half of the United States and in coastal areas as far south as Florida; they winter in the southern United States and into Mexico, particularly in coastal areas. Marsh wrens eat mostly insects, and occasionally snails, which they glean from the surface of vegetation. This species was formerly known as the long-billed marsh wren (Telmatodytes palustris).

Breeding activities and social organization

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Many populations of marsh wren are polygynous, with some males mating with two, occasionally three, females in a season, while the remaining males have one mate or remain bachelors. For example, Leonard and Picman (1987) found 5 to 11 percent bachelor males, 41 to 48 percent monogamous males, 37 to 43 percent bigamous males, and 5 to 12 percent trigamous males in two marshes in Manitoba, Canada. Similarly, Verner and Engelsen (1970) found 16 percent bachelors, 57 percent monogamous, and 25 percent bigamous males in eastern Washington state. In contrast, Kale (1965) found most males to be monogamous through 4 years of study in Georgia. Males arrive at the breeding marshes before the females to establish territories that include both nest sites and foraging areas (Kale, 1965; Verner, 1965; Welter, 1935). Males build several nests in their territories throughout the breeding season (Kale, 1965; Verner, 1965). The female usually only adds lining material to a nest of her choice, although some may help construct the breeding nest (Kale, 1965). Breeding nests are oblong in shape, with a side opening, and are woven of cattails, reeds, and grasses and lashed to standing vegetation, generally 30 cm to 1 m above standing water or high tide (Bent, 1948; Verner, 1965). Incubation lasts approximately 2 weeks, as does the nestling period (Kale, 1965; Verner, 1965). After fledging, one or both parents continue to feed the young for about 12 days (Verner, 1965). Many populations typically rear two broods per year, although some may rear three (Kale, 1965; Verner, 1965). In the more monogamous populations, both parents regularly feed young, but in the more polygynous ones, the females may provide most of the food, with males assisting only toward the end of the nestling period (Leonard and Picman, 1988; Verner, 1965).

Cistothorus palustris

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Slightly smaller than the similarly-shaped Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), the Marsh Wren is most easily identified by its size (5 inches), white eye-stripes, and white-striped back. Other field marks include a curved bill, short tail, and short wings. Male and female Marsh Wrens are similar to one another in all seasons. The Marsh Wren has two distinct breeding populations, mainly differentiated by differences in song patterns. One breeds in the eastern U.S., south-central Canada, and along the Gulf Coast. The other breeds from the Pacific coast of the U.S. east to the western Plains. Most birds breeding in the northeastern U.S. and Canada migrate to coastal areas of the southeastern U.S. in winter, while some western birds winter in the desert southwest and in Mexico. Most western Marsh Wrens, as well as coastal-breeding birds in the east, are non-migratory. Appropriately, the Marsh Wren inhabits a variety of marshland and wet grassland habitats across North America. The majority of Marsh Wrens breed in freshwater marshes, but coastal birds inhabit brackish or saltwater marshes as well. This species eats a variety of insects found in the water, on the blades of marsh grasses, or in the air. Due to this species’ preference for heavily-vegetated marshland habitats, the Marsh Wren is often more easily heard than seen. Male Marsh Wrens may be seen singing while perched atop marsh vegetation. With the aid of binoculars, Marsh Wrens may be seen while partially hidden in the undergrowth, climbing stalks of grasses while foraging for food. Marsh Wrens may also be seen undertaking short flights above the grass. This species is primarily active during the day.

References

  • Cistothorus palustris. Xeno-canto. Xeno-canto Foundation, n.d. Web. 20 July 2012.
  • Kroodsma, Donald E. and Jared Verner. 1997. Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/308
  • Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris). The Internet Bird Collection. Lynx Edicions, n.d. Web. 20 July 2012.
  • eBird Range Map - Marsh Wren. eBird. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, N.d. Web. 20 July 2012.

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Rumelt, Reid B. Cistothorus palustris. June-July 2012. Brief natural history summary of Cistothorus palustris. Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
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Food Habits

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Marsh wrens consume aquatic invertebrates, other insects, and spiders, which they glean from the water surface, on stems and leaves of emergent vegetation, and the marsh floor (Kale, 1965; Welter, 1935). They sometimes also feed by flycatching (Welter, 1935). The insect orders most commonly taken include Coleoptera (both adults and larvae), Diptera (adults and larvae), Hemiptera (juveniles and adults), Lepidoptera (larvae most commonly fed to nestlings); and Odonata (newly emerged) (Bent, 1948; Kale, 1964). When feeding the young, at first the parents bring mosquito adults and larvae, midges, larval tipulids, and other small insects (Welter, 1935). As the young mature, the parents bring larger insects such as ground beetles, diving beetles, long- horned beetles, caterpillars, dragonflies, and sawflies to the nestlings (Welter, 1935). In a population in Georgia, spiders (usually 1 to 3 mm in size, sometimes 12 to 15 mm), small crabs (5 to 7 mm), small snails (1 to 3 mm), and insect eggs also were consumed and fed to nestlings (Kale, 1965). Thus, organisms that are aquatic for all or part of their lives are an important component of the diet of marsh wren adults and nestlings.

Marsh wren

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Singing in a marsh at Hammonasset Beach, Connecticut

The marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris) is a small North American songbird of the wren family. It is sometimes called the long-billed marsh wren to distinguish it from the sedge wren, also known as the short-billed marsh wren.

Taxonomy

The marsh wren was described by the Scottish-American ornithologist Alexander Wilson in 1810 and given the binomial name Certhia palustris.[2] The current genus Cistothorus was introduced by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1850.[3] There are 15 recognised subspecies.[4]

Etymology: from Greek 'κιστος' (cistos, "a shrub") and 'θουρος' (thouros, "leaping, or running through") and Latin 'palustris' ("marshy").[5]

Description

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.

The male's song is a loud gurgle used to declare ownership of territory; western males have a more varied repertoire.

This little bird is native to Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Their breeding habitat is marshes with tall vegetation such as cattails across North America. 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. their non-breeding range is in the southern United States going into Mexico and their breeding range is in the northeastern United States going into Canada.[6]

Measurements:[7]

  • Length: 3.9–5.5 in (9.9–14.0 cm)
  • Weight: 0.3–0.5 oz (8.5–14.2 g)
  • Wingspan: 5.9 inches (15 cm)

Foraging and diet

These birds forage actively in vegetation close to the water, occasionally flying up to catch insects in flight. They mainly eat insects, also spiders and snails. In California, 53 Western Marsh Wren stomachs were examined which showed that the birds consume bugs (29%), caterpillars and chrysalids (17%), beetles (16%), ants and wasps (8%), spiders (5%), carabids and coccinellids (2%), with various other flies, grasshoppers, dragonflies and unidentifiable insect remains making up over 11 percent. Ants and wasps were observed to be mostly eaten in the fall.[8][9]

Nesting

The nest is an oval structure attached to marsh vegetation, entered from the side. The male builds many unused nests in his territory. A hypothesis of the possible reason to why males build multiple "dummy" nests in their territory is that they are courting areas and that the females construct the "breeding nest" in which she lays her eggs.[10] He may puncture the eggs and fatally peck the nestlings of other birds nesting nearby, including his own species (even his own offspring) and red-winged blackbirds, yellow-headed blackbirds, and least bitterns.[11] The clutch is normally four to six eggs, though the number can range from three to 10.[12] The eggs are usually 0.6-0.7 inches in length and 0.4-0.6 inches in width.[8] Incubation is performed only by females, and only females develop a brood patch.[13] Marsh wren young can get infected by pathogenic larvae.[14] The Blowfly larvae infect the young by subdermal myiasis-induced lesions and subsequent sepsis.[14] The larvae form a wound in the young by rasping and expanding a hole in their skin to create blood flow and feed on the blood of the hosts' body.[14]

Conservation

The species is still common with an estimated global breeding population of 9.4 million.[8] However, its numbers have declined with the loss of suitable wetland habitat and wholesale draining of marshes will lead to local extinction. Still, the species is widespread enough not to qualify as threatened according to the IUCN.

Gallery

References

Citations

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Cistothorus palustris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22711374A94291392. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22711374A94291392.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Wilson, Alexander (1810). American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep. pp. 58–60, Plate 12 fig. 4.
  3. ^ Cabanis, Jean (1850). Museum Heineanum : Verzeichniss der ornithologischen Sammlung des Oberamtmann Ferdinand Heine, auf Gut St. Burchard vor Halberstadt (in German). Vol. 1. Halberstadt: In Commission bei R. Frantz. p. 77.
  4. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2017). "Dapple-throats, sugarbirds, fairy-bluebirds, kinglets, hyliotas, wrens & gnatcatchers". World Bird List Version 7.3. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  5. ^ McGillivray, Semenchuck, William Bruce, Glen Peter (1998). The Federation of Alberta Naturalists Field Guide to Alberta Birds. Federation of Alberta Naturalists. ISBN 9780969613428. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  6. ^ Cornell All About Birds. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Marsh_Wren/lifehistory
  7. ^ "Marsh Wren Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  8. ^ a b c "Marsh Wren". All About Birds. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  9. ^ Beal, F. E. L (1907). Birds of California in relation to the fruit industry. Vol. Part 1. Washington Government Printing Office. p. 62.
  10. ^ Metz, Karen J. “The Enigma of Multiple Nest Building by Male Marsh Wrens.” Jan. 1991, pp. 170–173.
  11. ^ Kroodsma, Donald E.; Verner, Jared (1997). A. Poole (ed.). "Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)". The Birds of North America Online. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  12. ^ "All About Birds: Marsh Wren". Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  13. ^ Verner, Jared (1964). Breeding Biology of the Long-billed Marsh Wren. p. 19.
  14. ^ a b c Warren, Yvonne. "Protocalliphora Braueri (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Induced Pathogenesis in a Brood of Marsh Wren (Cistothorus Palustris) Young". Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 17 Mar. 1993, doi:10.7589.

General sources

  • Henninger, W. F. (1906): "A preliminary list of the birds of Seneca County, Ohio". Wilson Bull. 18(2): 47–60. DjVu full text PDF full text
  • Warren, Yvonne. "Protocalliphora Braueri (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Induced Pathogenesis in a Brood of Marsh Wren (Cistothorus Palustris) Young". Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 17 Mar. 1993. doi:10.7589.
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Marsh wren: Brief Summary

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Singing in a marsh at Hammonasset Beach, Connecticut

The marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris) is a small North American songbird of the wren family. It is sometimes called the long-billed marsh wren to distinguish it from the sedge wren, also known as the short-billed marsh wren.

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