Do Winter Wrens go in cattails?

[Colton V]

Today I was in a marshy area in Lindenhurst, Illinois and I heard a call from the cattails that I was unfamiliar with. At first it sounded similar to a Red Crossbill because it was pairs of chirps: “Pip-pip, pip-pip, pip-pip.” The bird was moving around in the cattails but the vegetation never moved or made noise so I assumed the bird was a small passerine. I never saw it, but Winter Wren calls on the Merlin app seem to match. So I am wondering if habitat fits for Winter Wren. On one side of the marsh was a lake and on the other side was a neighborhood. 

[Seanbirds]

Wouldn’t surprise me very much if it was, but I’m not sure.

[Birding Boy]

Yeah, all the time! At least here in Michigan. They can sound similar to Crossbills, but also Song Sparrows which share that habitat.

[Seanbirds]

18 minutes ago, Birding Boy said:

Yeah, all the time! At least here in Michigan. They can sound similar to Crossbills, but also Song Sparrows which share that habitat.

Thanks for backing me up on that. I've only ever seen them in more typical habitat (thick brush next to/in woods or forest).

[Birding Boy]

10 hours ago, Seanbirds said:

Thanks for backing me up on that. I've only ever seen them in more typical habitat (thick brush next to/in woods or forest).

I've seen them in cattails here a few times in winter. I would assume this is due to them looking for unfrozen stuff in the water when it gets really cold and there's snow covering their typical habitat.