Sedge Wren,Cistothorus platensis.
April 27 to May 9+ and August 14 to November 29+. Regular transient in small
numbers. Baerg (1951) published the reports of Dean Crooks who in 1947 found
the species in Benton County during May, July, and August. It has been found
in the western Arkansas Ozarks in other years during the period when it has
been known to breed elsewhere in Arkansas (James and Neal 1986). Clawson
(1982: 51) shows that in southwestern Missouri it is very likely a breeding
bird on a rare basis, but breeding is not confirmed. In migration the species
is sometimes found in brushy open fields that are far from marsh-like situations.
During the mild winter of 1986-87 there were 3 records in January and February.
Marsh Wren,Cistothorus palustris.
April 15 to May 12 and September 13 to November 16. Regular transient, especially
in fall, where marsh-like habitat is available. They occur regularly in migration
in places like the wet ditches and small stands of cattails and other aquatic
vegetation around the ponds at the state fish hatchery in Centerton. Many reports
involve single birds. A total of six were counted at Centerton on October 14, 1984,
and five were found at the Hickory Creek Recreation Area on Beaver Lake in Benton
County on September 29, 1984.