The
marsh wren (
Cistothorus palustris) is a small North American songbird of the
wren family. The adult has a dark cap, brown upper-parts, a white throat and breast, and light brown underparts. It breeds in southern Canada and the United States; some birds are resident while others
migrate to overwinter in the southern United States and Mexico. Its habitat is marshland where it nests in tall vegetation, the male building several oval structures with side entrances, only one of which is eventually used by the female. The male is fiercely
territorial, attacking the eggs and young of other birds nesting in the vicinity. This photograph was taken in the
Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area in the province of
Quebec, Canada.
Photograph credit: Cephas