Cyperus

There are 150 to 200 species of cyperus plants. Many birds, including Virginia rails, American coots, canvasback ducks, redheads, Canada geese, red-winged blackbirds and marsh wrens nest in colonies of various tall cyperus plants. Racoons also frequent these sites, where they find good protection and plentiful food, eating the birds' eggs and young. Ducks and shore and marsh birds eat cyperus seeds.