Photo: Cephas / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Marsh Wren
Cistothorus palustris
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) is a member of the Troglodytidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 10.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Troglodytidae Wrens
- Genus Cistothorus
- Species palustris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Troglodytidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Marsh Wren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Marsh Wren is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) belongs to the Troglodytidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA widespread, also Mexico.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.8 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 cm and a tail of around 4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Marsh Wren?
The Marsh Wren is a very small bird that weighs around 10.8 g.
Where does the Marsh Wren live?
The Marsh Wren is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA widespread, also Mexico, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Marsh Wren belong to?
The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) belongs to the Troglodytidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Marsh Wren eat?
The Marsh Wren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Marsh Wren migrate?
The Marsh Wren is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Marsh Wren endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Marsh Wren make?
1 real field recording of the Marsh Wren — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Marsh Wren's range?
The Marsh Wren has a mapped global range of about 4.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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