Pl. CLXXIV
The Birds · Plate CLXXIV
Northern Waterthrush
Parkesia noveboracensis
Parulidae · Taxon 73149
| Length | Both sexes: 4.7–5.5 in (12–14 cm) |
| Wingspan | Both sexes: 8.9–10.0 in (22.5–25.5 cm) |
| Weight | Both sexes: 0.5–0.7 oz (14.7–19.2 g) |
Field marks
- Large, trim warbler with a long body and relatively short tail
- Olive-brown upperparts with plain, unbarred wings
- Narrow buff-to-whitish eyebrow emphasizing the dark eye
- Whitish or pale buff underparts with dense dark streaking, including on the throat
- Short, fine, pointed dark bill
- Long, dusky pink legs and a narrow, dark tail
HabitatShaded wet habitats with dense ground cover, especially wooded swamps, bogs, brush-edged ponds, lake margins, and sluggish streams. During migration it also uses small wetlands and waterside thickets; nonbreeding habitat includes mangroves and other wet forests.
BehaviorWalks and wades along wet ground and shallow water, repeatedly bobbing the rear of its body while picking invertebrates from water, mud, wet leaves, logs, rocks, and low vegetation. Often solitary and territorial; migration occurs mainly at night.
Palette
olive brownbuff creamsoft whitecharcoal blackdusky pink