Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 3.9–4.7 in
10–12 cm
Other Names
- Short-billed Marsh Wren (English)
- Troglodyte à bec court (French)
- Chivirín sabanero (Spanish)
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 Tierra del Fuego.
Habitat
Marsh
- 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
Insects and spiders.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–8 eggs
- Egg Description
- white
- Condition at Hatching
- Naked and helpless
Nest Description
Round ball of grasses and sedges, with entrance on side.
Nest Placement
Shrub
Behavior
Ground Forager
Runs on ground to avoid predators. Usually flies only a short distance before diving back into grass.
Conservation
Least Concern
The species is of management concern because of its dependence on vulnerable and restricted habitats.
Credits
- 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.