Louisiana Waterthrush

(Parkesia motacilla)

Conservation Status

 

No Image Available

  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

     
  NatureServe

N5B - Secure Breeding

S3B - Vulnerable Breeding

     
  Minnesota

Special Concern

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

     
           
 
Description
 
 

The eyebrow line is buff in front of the eye, white behind, and broad in back, not tapered. It continues back to the nape of the neck. The throat is white and unstreaked. The breast and belly are white. The flanks and undertail coverts are tinged buff.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

4½ to 6¾ in length

10 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
  Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) eyeline is buff throughout, tapered to a point in back, and ends well before the nape of the neck. The throat is finely streaked. The underparts are buff.  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Heavily wooded ravines with streams in a large tract of mature forest

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Early May to late August

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

Terrestrial and aquatic insects, crustaceans, earthworms.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Seldom encountered migrant, uncommon and local breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Parulidae (New World warblers, wood warblers)  
 

Genus

Parkesia (waterthrushes)  
       
 

This species was formerly included with the ovenbird in the genus Seiurus. Recent mitochondrial DNA studies suggest that the waterthrushes are not closely related to the ovenbird. The genus was split and the waterthrushes were placed in the new genus Parkesia.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Seiurus motacilla

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           
           

 

Camera

 

     
Slideshows
   
  Louisiana Waterthrush
Allen Chartier
 
  Louisiana Waterthrush  
     
  Louisiana Waterthrush
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
 
  Louisiana Waterthrush  
     
  Louisiana Waterthrush
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Louisiana Waterthrush  

 

slideshow

       
Visitor Videos
   

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Other Videos
 
  Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) gathering nest material
Rob Curtis
 
   
 
About

Published on Nov 28, 2014

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) gathering nest material and going to a hole in a stream band to build their nest.

photo gallery at:
http://www.theearlybirder.com/warblers/la-waterthrush/index.htm

   
       
  Louisiana Waterthrush. ©Jim Zipp 2011
WIld Bird Video Productions
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Apr 22, 2011

Louisiana Waterthrush on territory in spring. Connecticut in April and May. Jim Zipp

   
       
  Louisiana Waterthrush singing
ntbirdman
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 17, 2014

A Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) singing in Busey Woods, Urbana, IL on 17-Apr-2014

   
       
  Louisiana Waterthrush singing in Kent, CT
Daniel Field
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 3, 2013

A Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) sings while defending its territory along River Road in Kent, CT.

   
       
  Birdchase: Search for the Louisiana Waterthrush
Rob Tymstra
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 11, 2012

Birdchase: Episode 1: Search for the Louisiana Waterthrush. A pilot for a possible series.

   
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
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