About Cistothorus palustris (A.Wilson, 1810)
Adults of Cistothorus palustris have brown upperparts, light brown bellies and flanks, and white throats and breasts. Their backs are black with white stripes. They have a dark cap, a white stripe over the eyes, and a short thin bill. Males sing a loud gurgle to claim territory; western males have a more varied song repertoire. This small bird is native to Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Its breeding habitat consists of marshes with tall vegetation like cattails, distributed across North America. In the western United States, some individuals are permanent residents. Other populations migrate to marshes and salt marshes in the southern United States and Mexico. The non-breeding range of this species extends across the southern United States into Mexico, while the breeding range stretches from the northeastern United States into Canada. Standard measurements for the species are: length 3.9–5.5 in (9.9–14.0 cm), weight 0.3–0.5 oz (8.5–14.2 g), and wingspan 5.9 inches (15 cm).
