Date: 11/2/26 6:09 am From: Tobin Brown via NEBirds <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] AOS updates feat. UNK Ornithology
I've been looking at a lot of photos this past week, and I would still lean
Eastern on this one. Birds of the World says:
"Eastern Marsh Wren is generally darker and more chestnut-colored than
Western Marsh Wren, with a darker crown, *less conspicuous tail barring*,
more *reddish-brown on the flanks* and underparts, and darker reddish-brown
legs."
In your bird I am definitely seeing the deep reddish-brown on the flanks
that doesn't often seem to be present in Western (which is more dusty
brown), and the barring on the tail is quite faint (only showing on the
outer edges). I think it would take a lighter drabber bird with more tail
barring <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/495353651> to consider Western
in the Southeast part of the state.
Definitely a new "fun" ID challenge!
----
*Tobin Brown*
Lincoln, NE
Field Reports Editor, *The Nebraska Bird Review*
eBird Reviewer, Nebraska
On Sat, Oct 31, 2026 at 12:45 PM flyingcarlini via NEBirds <flyingcarlini=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Thank you Peggy and Jacob for the lifer! And thank you Thane for posting
> this important info! We had a migrant marsh-wren here in Lancaster Co a
> couple days ago that we had assumed was Eastern but after uploading the few
> pics obtained, started leaning Western instead based on Sibley's examples
> and also All About Birds' photos of both species which varied A LOT between
> more and less reddish individuals. Any opinions on our bird and/or advice
> on how to safely differentiate Eastern and Western would be greatly
> appreciated! Photo examples seemed consistent on these points (to our
> amateur eyes so may or may not be accurate):
>
> • solid brown crown and solid brown strip across nape in Western/black
> peppered into crown and center of nape in Eastern
> • richer reddish scapulars contrasting with lighter colored secondaries on
> Western folded wing/equally reddish color on scapulars extending into
> secondaries on Eastern folded wing
>
> Are we headed down the right path? Can we hang our hat on any of these
> points, or are we doomed to report Western/Eastern for non-singing birds?
> Below is the link to our checklist and attached photo:
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S406656056 >
> -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>
>
>
