Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Least ConcernCommonInvertebratesShrublandCavity nestSmall · 16 g

About the Northern Waterthrush

The northern waterthrush is a species of ground-feeding migratory New World warbler of the genus Parkesia. It breeds in the northern part of North America, in Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States; it winters in Florida, Central America, the West Indies, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. It is a rare vagrant to other South American countries and to western Europe. Its closest relative is the Louisiana waterthrush.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The northern waterthrush is a large New World warbler (and not a thrush, despite the name). It has a length of 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in), wingspan of 21–24 cm (8.3–9.4 in) and weighs between 13 and 25 g (0.46 and 0.88 oz) Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 6.8 to 8.2 cm (2.7 to 3.2 in), the tail is 4.5 to 5.7 cm (1.8 to 2.2 in), the bill is 1.1 to 1.2 cm (0.43 to 0.47 in) and the tarsus is 1.9 to 2.3 cm (0.75 to 0.91 in). On the head, the crown is brown with a white supercilium. The bill is pointed and dark.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Northern Waterthrush sounds like

Recording: Doug Hynes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Portugal, Brazil, Netherlands, Peru, France.

When to see it

Peak activity in May · a summer visitor species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Louisiana Waterthrush vs Northern Waterthrush

Learn the Northern Waterthrush for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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