Louisiana Waterthrush

Overview

The Louisiana waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) is a New World warbler that breeds in eastern North America and winters in the West Indies and Central America. It is the largest species of wood warbler, measuring 14–17 cm in length.

Identification

• Plain brown back with white underparts streaked with black, distinguishing it from the northern waterthrush which has white flanks.
• Bright pink legs and a strong white flared supercilium.
• Male song consists of a musical, distinctive series of descending notes followed by a warble, often mirroring the pitch of a hilly stream.
• Frequently bobs its tail, similar to its close relative the northern waterthrush.

Habitat

Prefers streams and their surroundings, as well as other wet areas, particularly wet woodlands near running water for breeding. It is a rare vagrant to the western United States and is one of the earliest neotropical migrants to return to its breeding grounds in late spring.

Diet

Mostly depends on aquatic insects, molluscs, and crustaceans, foraging in actively running water. Occasionally takes ground-based insects such as beetles and ants, or flies hawked on the wing, and can target prey as large as salamanders and small fish when insect prey is low.

Did you know?

This bird is one of a few passerine species that does most of its foraging in actively running water, a behaviour characteristic of dippers within its family.