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Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)

The Marsh Wren, a tiny but spirited songbird, is best known for its energetic trills and elusive nature. With its bold white eyebrow and rich brown plumage, this secretive wren flits through the dense reeds and cattails of Montreal’s wetlands. Despite its modest size, the Marsh Wren fills marshes with a loud, bubbling chorus that reveals its presence long before it’s seen, captivating those who pause to listen.

Identification and Whereabouts

Easier to hear than to see. With their brown plumage the Marsh Wren perfectly fits into the vegetation during spring when they are most active. When you hear the call watch closely in between the dry reed from last year and green reed from this year. It's a small bird, white breast, brown back. The way how this bird holds it's back feathers is typical and serves as criteria for identification.

Encounters

During May and early June, the breeding season in the reed along ponds in nature parks. I spotted this species in Parc de la Frayère and Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies

All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz

Last updated: 2025-10-31