Why Are Nesting Marsh Wrens and Yellow-Headed Blackbirds Spatially Segregated?

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Abstract
The activity centers of Marsh Wrens (Cistothorus palustris) and Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) are spatially segregated. This segregation may occur because (1) one species excludes the other or (2) the two species prefer different habitats. These hypotheses were tested by documenting changes in the size and location of Marsh Wren territories throughout the breeding season, and by the removal of conesting Yellow-headed Blackbirds. The expansion of Marsh Wren territories into blackbird breeding areas after both the natural departure and the removal of blackbirds best supports the explanation based on the active exclusion of Marsh Wrens by Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

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