209 



722. Winter Wren. pr. — le troqlodttb d'hivbr. Nanrnis hiemalig. L, 4-06. 

 Of tjrpioal wren-like build and coloration. Much like the House Wren but smaller and 

 darker below and more or less finely barred across the abdomen. 



Distinctions. The complete barring below is distinctive of this species. 



Field Marks. A small, very dark Wren with a short tail; found in dense woods. 



Nesting. In roots of a tree or a brush heap or in side of mossy log in nest of small twigs 

 and moss lined with feathers. 



Distribution. As a species, all of North America to tree limits; breeding throughout 

 Canada in the coniferous woods except in the more southern sections. 



SUBSPECIES. The Winter Wren, distributed over most of the continent, is 

 divided into a number of geographical races or subspecies of which the type form, the 

 Eastern Winter Wren, is the only one that comes within our geographical limits. 



Only a migrant within most of the more southern sections of Canada 

 this bird breeds commonly in the cool deep forest. Its song is nearly enough 

 in spirit and character like that of the House Wren for the recognition of its 

 relationship but has a fuller and richer quality and purer tone. Heard 

 in the quietness of the still forest it has a wild woodland beauty possessed 

 by no other native species. 



Economic Status. Being a frequenter of the woodlands this bird 

 does not come into close contact with man but its effects so far as they go 

 are entirely beneficial. 



724. Short-billed Marsh Wren. Cistothorus stellaris. L, 4. Much like the long- 

 billed Marsh Wren but smaller and more finely streaked. 



Distinctions. The two Marsh Wrens are the only wrens native to eastern Canada which 

 have sharply striped upperparts. The Short-billed is the only one with a streaked crown. 



Field Marks. A small Marsh Wren with little or no redidsh tinge in the brown colour- 

 ing and with a streaked head. Its notes are quite different from those of the Long-bill with 

 which it is most likely to be confused . 



Nesting. On wet ground, in nest, a ball of gpreen grass woven near the top of grass 

 slumps with a small circular entrance hole in the side. 



Distrihwtion. Eastern United States crossing into Canada in the east along lake Erie 

 and adjacent country but more common in the prairie provinces. 



The Short-billed Marsh Wren is local and irregular in its distribution; 

 it may be present one year in a locality and absent the next, and little is 

 really known of its distribution in Canada. It frequents damp, grassy 

 marshes rather than wet swamps and is usually found in little colonies. 



725. Long-billed Marsh Wren. fr. — lk troglodyte des mabais. Telmato- 

 dytes palustris. L, 5-2. A richly coloured wren with an almost black mantle falling from 

 hind neck over shoulders where it is streaked with white; all remainder, reddish brown 

 above, creamy white below with flanks washed with the same colour as the back. 



Distinctions. The variation and colours of back will distinguish the two Marsh Wrens 

 from all others; the crown evenly coloured or with only a dfifuse brown median stripe 

 instead of numerous short, fine stripes wiU separate it from the Short-billed. 



Field Marks. The locality which it frequents — wet, reedy, or cat-tail marshes — is 

 usually sufficient for identification but the dark crown contrasting with the light eyebrow 

 line is always specifically diagnostic. 



Nesting. Near the top of the reeds or rushes in wide wet marshes, nest a ball of 

 dead cat-taU leaves, grass, or reeds. Unlike many other marsh-haunters this species is not 

 attracted by marshes of small size. A swampy pool a few yards across attracts the Red- 

 wLog and perhaps a Rail or two but the Long-billed Marsh Wren demands a considerable 

 area. An interesting trait of the Marsh Wren is the habit of building numerous mock nests 

 near the one really occupied. The use made of these nests is not known but as many as 

 eight or nine nests that can be reasonably attributed to the efforts of one pair may at times 

 be found. 



Distribution. As a species the United States and southern Canada. Our Eastern 

 Mardi Wren, the type subspecies, occurs west to the Great Lakes region. 



