Date: 11/10/26 8:29 am From: Tobin Brown via NEBirds <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] AOS updates feat. UNK Ornithology
I've been going through my Marsh-Wren records and came across this bird
that I think may be a Western, but is probably best left as a slash. On
this bird, I'm seeing relatively dull flanks, a duller supercilium, and
quite distinct tail barring. I think the late date might also suggest
Western, but that might not be conclusive yet with limited data. I really
wish I'd grabbed a recording that day, I even noted that it was chatty.
Note: eBird changed this to *Eastern *and not* Western/Eastern*, so I
recommend you check your records as well until we figure out the limits!
----
*Tobin Brown*
Lincoln, NE
Field Reports Editor, *The Nebraska Bird Review*
eBird Reviewer, Nebraska
On Mon, Nov 2, 2026 at 1:36 PM Paul Roisen via NEBirds <roisenp1950=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Good to know that I am not the only one who posts something only to find
> out I made an error in ID or statment.
>
> God Bless.
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 <(712)%20301-2817> **<roisenp1950...>
> <roisenp1950...>*
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 2, 2026 at 1:13 PM flyingcarlini via NEBirds <flyingcarlini=
> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
>> Need to disagree with myself - scratch that statement about tail barring
>> being consistent because Eastern example below from All About Birds shows
>> an ample amount of visible barring even on the darker reddish tail:
>> [image: Inline image]
>> Also scratch my earlier statement about nape and crown being browner on
>> Westerns vs blacker on Easterns because a quick browse of Macaulay pics
>> show widely varying degrees of black and brown on crown and nape of both
>> species. Back to square one!
>> -Shari & John
>> On Monday, November 2, 2026 at 12:20:19 PM CST, flyingcarlini via NEBirds
>> <flyingcarlini...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Thanks to all for the feedback! We agree it's best to leave this silent
>> marsh-wrem as Western/Eastern. It might be worth reiterating how much
>> variability between individuals there is. While many pics of WEMWs do
>> indeed have a more grayish tone on the underparts, there appears to be
>> plenty of exceptions to Princeton's description of Western having a
>> "dingier breast" because numerous Neb. pics of Westerns show a fairly white
>> breast and also what maybe could be interpreted as streaky cheeks. Also,
>> pasted below is an example of rich chestnut coloration in a WEMW's plumage
>> in Bristish Columbia on the All About Birds site that's arguably the same
>> reddish tint as the marsh-wren in our pic and some Easterns :
>> [image: Inline image]
>> Perhaps the most consistent WEMW field mark we've seen so far is the
>> amount of tail barring that Jacob and Tobin mentioned.
>> -Shari & John, Lincoln
>>
>> On Monday, November 2, 2026 at 09:12:13 AM CST, Jacob C. Cooper via
>> NEBirds <cooperj2...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I would concur with Tobin; the dark black on the flanks of the crown, the
>> deep russet and chestnut tones to the flanks and tail, and the overall
>> bright, colorful, and crisp appearance would all make me lean Eastern. That
>> being said, I know the characters for separating these are still being
>> actively discussed, so I could see a good argument for leaving this as
>> “marsh-wren sp.” as well.
>>
>> JC
>>
>> ------------------------------------------
>> *Jacob C. Cooper, PhD (he/him)*
>> *Lab Website* <https://unkornithology.github.io/> | *Book a meeting*
>> <https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/<54b539030932433597927a9d0bc134c6...>/meetingtype/DipxYAhygk6c6tyh8N9U9g2?anonymous&ismsaljsauthenabled&ep=mLinkFromTile> >>
>> *Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney*
>> Bruner Hall of Sciences, Room 321
>> 2401 11th Avenue
>> Kearney, NE 68849-1130
>>
>> *Research Associate, Field Museum, Chicago*
>> *Citizen of the Cherokee Nation*
>>
>> *From: *Tobin Brown via NEBirds <tobinjbrown...>
>> *Date: *Monday, November 2, 2026 at 08:09
>> *To: *<NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
>> *Subject: *Re: [NEBirds] AOS updates feat. UNK Ornithology
>>
>> *Caution:* Non-NU Email
>>
>> 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://urldefense.com/v3/__https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/495353651__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!Bn0WJiWR2Clw3kIEZq8ygaqVzJH4jUdm6NnR8VndjC_GyS1AT-EuDVOU-wohrj2n3rSLJx7O-Nc625pQ1kfWJ8yC6zKpcA$> >> to consider Western in the Southeast part of the state.
>>
>> Definitely a new "fun" ID challenge!
>>
>> ----
>> *Tobin Brown*
>> Lincoln, NE
>> Field Reports Editor, *The Nebraska Bird Review*
>> eBird Reviewer, Nebraska
>>
>> On Sat, Oct 31, 2026 at 12:45 PM flyingcarlini via NEBirds <flyingcarlini=
>> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>>
>> Thank you Peggy and Jacob for the lifer! And thank you Thane for posting
>> this important info! We had a migrant marsh-wren here in Lancaster Co a
>> couple days ago that we had assumed was Eastern but after uploading the few
>> pics obtained, started leaning Western instead based on Sibley's examples
>> and also All About Birds' photos of both species which varied A LOT between
>> more and less reddish individuals. Any opinions on our bird and/or advice
>> on how to safely differentiate Eastern and Western would be greatly
>> appreciated! Photo examples seemed consistent on these points (to our
>> amateur eyes so may or may not be accurate):
>>
>> • solid brown crown and solid brown strip across nape in Western/black
>> peppered into crown and center of nape in Eastern
>> • richer reddish scapulars contrasting with lighter colored secondaries
>> on Western folded wing/equally reddish color on scapulars extending into
>> secondaries on Eastern folded wing
>>
>> Are we headed down the right path? Can we hang our hat on any of these
>> points, or are we doomed to report Western/Eastern for non-singing birds?
>> Below is the link to our checklist and attached photo:
>> https://ebird.org/checklist/S406656056 >> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://ebird.org/checklist/S406656056__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!Bn0WJiWR2Clw3kIEZq8ygaqVzJH4jUdm6NnR8VndjC_GyS1AT-EuDVOU-wohrj2n3rSLJx7O-Nc625pQ1kfWJ8wy3VyH_g$> >>
>> -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>>
>>
>
>
