Bird · GBIF taxon 2493863
Marsh Wren
Cistothorus palustrisAlso known as Long-billed Marsh Wren
Male Marsh Wrens are industrious architects, constructing up to two dozen dummy nests per season across their wetland territories to confuse predators and attract females. These tiny songbirds cling acrobatically between upright cattail stalks, belting out a loud, buzzy, gurgling song that echoes across reed beds. Deep inside dense vegetation, they forage actively for aquatic insects and spiders while fiercely defending their chosen patch of marsh.
SongbirdWetlandSkulking
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Spiders
- Caterpillars
- Aquatic Beetles
Predators
- Northern Harrier
- Snapping Turtle
- Rat Snake
ThreatsHabitat loss, wetland drainage, invasive reed canary grass
HabitatsFreshwater and saltwater marshes, cattail stands, reed beds
Life span2 to 6 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyTroglodytidae
- SpeciesCistothorus palustris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Calls: Track down hidden individuals by listening for a harsh, gurgling raspy chatter among the reeds.
- Keep Distance from Nests: Avoid wading through dense cattails during spring to protect delicate dome nests.
- Scan Stalk Tops: Look near the tips of marsh plants early in the morning when singing males emerge to defend territory.
Frequent Companion (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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