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Tiny Marsh Wrens live in wetlands, usually within cattails, reeds, or bulrushes. After choosing his territory, the male weaves up to 15 dome-shaped shells, lashing together cattails, grasses, or reeds. These are called "courting" nests. Then, sitting high atop a perch in the marsh, he sings, inviting a female to select a nest in his territory. once the female has chosen one of his shells, she lines it with cattail down, feathers, leaves, or grass and lays her eggs. Sometimes a second female chooses a nest on the opposite end of his territory.
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BirdNote®
The Marsh Wren's Many Nests
Written by Idie Ulsh
This is BirdNote.
[Song of Marsh Wren]
Tiny Marsh Wrens live in wetlands, usually within cattails, reeds, or bulrushes.
[Song of Marsh Wren]
After choosing his territory, the male weaves several dome-shaped shells, lashing together cattails, grasses, or reeds. These are called “courting” nests. Then, sitting high atop a perch in the marsh, he sings his sewing machine-like song, inviting a female to select a nest in his territory.
[Song of Marsh Wren]
Once the female has chosen one of his shells, she lines it with cattail down, feathers, leaves, or grass and lays her eggs.
Sometimes a second female chooses a nest on the opposite end of his territory.
Attracting mates and confusing predators make all the male’s work worthwhile.
When you’re near a marsh this time of year, listen for the Marsh Wren’s “sewing machine” song.
[Song of Marsh Wren]
For BirdNote, I'm Mary McCann.
Support for BirdNote comes from the Cornell Lab's Bird Academy with online courses online for people of all knowledge levels. More at All About Birds dot org.
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Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Marsh Wren [109118] recorded by G.A. Keller.
Producer: John Kessler
Executive Producer: Chris Peterson
© 2011 Tune In to Nature.org May 2011/2021 Narrator: Mary McCann
ID# MAWR-03-2011-05-01