Sedge Wren

Cistothorus platensis

Order PASSERIFORMES - Family TROGLODYTIDAE

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

A small, secretive wren that breeds in short grass and sedge marshes. Perhaps because of the highly transitory nature of its nesting habitats, the Sedge Wren moves around a great deal from year to year, not staying in one place for long.

Cool Facts

• The Sedge Wren is one of the most nomadic territorial birds in North America. On a given area, it may be present in numbers in one year, and be completely absent the next.

• Many unconnected Sedge Wren populations occur throughout the Americas, from Canada to Terra del Fuego.

Description

• Size: 10-12 cm (4-5 in)

• Small buffy bird with thin bill.
• Short tail often held upright.
• Bold streaks on back.
• Narrow streaks on crown.

• Wings and tail barred with black.
• Indistinct eyestripe.

Sex Differences

Sexes alike

Immature

Like adult.

Similar Species

• Marsh Wren has similar streaks on back, but is darker, has a dark unstreaked crown, and has a bolder eyestripe.

Sound

Sharp chips followed by rapid chatter.

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds in the central prairie provinces and the upper midwestern states eastward to Quebec and New Hampshire. Varies from year to year at the edges of the range. Also in Central and South America.

Winter Range

Winters in southern states and Mexico.

Habitat

• Nests in dense tall sedges and grasses in wet meadows, hayfields, and marshes.
• Avoids cattails.
• Winters in grassy marshes and dry grass fields.

Food

Insects and spiders.

Behavior

Other Behavior

Runs on ground to avoid predators. Usually flies only a short distance before diving back into grass.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Round ball of grasses and sedges, with entrance on side.

Egg Description

white

Clutch Size

Usually 7 eggs. Range: 2-8.

Condition at Hatching

Naked and helpless

Conservation Status

The species is of management concern because of its dependence on vulnerable and restricted habitats.

Other Names

Troglodyte à bec court (French)
Chivirín sabanero (Spanish)
Short-billed Marsh Wren (English)

Sources used to construct this page:

Herkert, J. R., D. E. Kroodsma, and J. P. Gibbs. 2001. Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis). In The Birds of North America, No. 582 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.