Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sedge Wren
Cistothorus stellaris
Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) is a member of the Troglodytidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 9 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 stellaris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Troglodytidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sedge Wren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Sedge Wren is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) belongs to the Troglodytidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA sc, se Canada and ne USA.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9 g, with a wing length of about 4.5 cm and a tail of around 3.6 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 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sedge Wren?
The Sedge Wren is a very small bird that weighs around 9 g.
Where does the Sedge Wren live?
The Sedge Wren is found across North America with a range covering NA sc, se Canada and ne USA, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Sedge Wren belong to?
The Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) belongs to the Troglodytidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sedge Wren eat?
The Sedge Wren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sedge Wren migrate?
The Sedge Wren is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Sedge 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 Sedge Wren make?
1 real field recording of the Sedge Wren — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sedge Wren's range?
The Sedge Wren has a mapped global range of about 1.9 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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