Wetlands Habitat: Marshes and Swamps

Most people use the words marshes and swamps interchangeably, but in fact they are two very different kinds of habitats.

A marsh is characterized by an abundance of reeds, rushes and cattails and is generally treeless and open. The plants grow with their stems partly in and partly out of the water. Marshes can be shallow (6" of water) or deep (2-3' of water). In the deeper marshes, pondweeds and water lilies float on the water. Marshes can be found along streams in poorly drained depressions and also develop in the shallower water along the borders of lakes, ponds and rivers. Florida's Everglades are considered Saw Grass Marshes.

A swamp is either completely or partially wooded with trees and shrubs. Swamp soils are a form of black muck and is generally saturated with some standing water which can be anywhere from 1" to a 1' or more deep. There are many different types of swamps, i.e., Cypress Swamps located in the south and characterized by protruding tree roots and spanish moss; Shrub Swamps located in forested regions and characterized by low-growing thickets of evergreen and deciduous shrubs; Red Maple Swamps located in the Northern United States; Southern Bottomland Hardwood Swamps which are river swamps characterized by forests of gum, oak and baldcypress trees.

A wide variety of birds such as ducks, swans, terns, geese, herons and songbirds are found in marshes and swamps.

**Marshes**
(Not all birds are listed)
Birds	Breeding/Nest Facts	Plant Food
American Bittern	Breeds in marshy areas among tall vegetation. Nest on ground or raised platform.	(Insects, frogs, fish, crayfish)
Common Yellowthroat	Breeds by swamp and marshy edges. Nest at base of bush or in cattails and/or weeds,	(Insects)
Gadwall	Breeds by water with nearby vegetation. Nest near water concealed in tall vegetation.	Widgeongrass, Bulrush, Spikerush
Limpkin	Breeds in marshes and swamps in Florida and Georgia. Nest in bushes or grasses.	(Snails)
Red-winged Blackbird	Breeds by marshes and swamps.	Ragweed, Bristlegrass, Smartweed
Ruddy Duck	Breeds on marshes near tall vegetation. Floating nest attached to plants.	Pondweed, Widgeongrass, Smartweed
Sora	Breeds in marshes. Raised nest in base of tall vegetation by water's edge.	Sedge, Spikerush, Wildrice
Swamp Sparrow	Breeds in marsh and swamp edges. Nest in tall vegetation usually 1' above water or ground.	Sedge, Panicgrass, Smartweed
Yellow Rail	Breeds near marshes. Nest on ground among grasses.	Sedge, Smartweed, Spikerush

**Red-Maple/Northern & Shrub Swamps**
(Not all birds are listed)
Birds	Breeding/Nest Facts	Plant Food
Barred Owl	Breeds in variety of wooded areas. Nest in cavity of tree trunk.	None (rodents, small birds, large insects)
Barrow's Goldeneye	Breeds by water. Nest in tree cavity.	Pondweed, Widgeongrass, Alga
Red-shouldered Hawk	Breeds in moist woodlands. Nest on large tree.	None (rodents, snakes, small birds)
Wood Duck	Breeds near water. Nest in tree trunk cavity.	Wildrice, Sedge, Pondweed

**Cypress Swamps**
(Not all birds are listed)
Birds	Breeding/Nest Facts	Plant Food
Pileated Woodpecker	Breeds in forest with large trees. Nest in cavity of tree trunk.	Blackgum, Seeds, Nuts, Fruits
Wood Stork	Breeds in water where trees grow. Nest usually on treetops.	(Fish)

**Southern Bottomland Hardwood Swamps**
(Not all birds are listed)
Birds	Breeding/Nest Facts	Plant Food
Prothonotary Warbler	Breeds along swampy woodlands. Nest near water in cavity.	(Insects)
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Breeds in variety of woodland habitats.Nest in cavity of tree trunk or stump.	Oak, Blackgum, Seeds, Nuts, Fruits
Swainson's Warbler	Breeds in swamps of Southern US. Nest in shrubs or canes.	(Insects)