Marsh Wrens exhibit considerable geographic variation. They may be divided into three subspecies groups.
1. Coastal Pacific [paludicola Group]
2. Interior West [plesius Group]
3. Eastern [palustris Group]
Eastern birds are brighter and more reddish. They also have smaller song repertoires than the two western groups and probably constitute a separate species. Interior birds are generally paler and grayer than Coastal Pacific birds. Marsh Wrens are usually polygamous with single males building multiple nests in the hope of attracting multiple females. In spring, males sing incessantly from the top of reeds but at other seasons they disappear as they hide deep in marsh vegetation. This one had no place to hide during a king tide which flooded the salt marsh.
