Louisiana Waterthrush

First, a welcome to Zimbabwe, the 132nd country -- and 21st from Africa -- to visit our blog.


Continuing to share my warbler photos along with information about each species, from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.

Louisiana Waterthrush

Common Name: Louisiana Waterthrush

Scientific Name: Parkesia motacilia

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Conservation Status: Least Concern, mostly stable population with estimates of 360,000

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Size: 5.5 inches

Description: plain brown crown, nape, back, and wings without striping; bold white supercilium; white chin, throat, breast, and belly with brown streaks; bright pink legs; long pointed bill; short brown tail

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Male/Female: male and female are identical

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Range: Minnesota to New York south to Columbia; rarely west of the Missouri River

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Migration: winters in Central America, migration along the Gulf Coast, summers in Eastern United States

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Season for Arizona: casual transient, wintering along permanent streams

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Habitat: ground dwelling, walks bobbing tail along gravel bottomed streams flowing through deciduous forests

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Community Behavior: solitary

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Feeding Behavior: forages on ground gleaning insects from vegetation

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Diet: Insects and other arthropods, earthworms, occasionally frogs or small fish

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Nesting Behavior: 3-6 creamy white eggs with reddish brown spots in open cup of mud, leaves etc placed in small hollow or cavity on stream bank under a fallen log or upturned tree

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Where to Find in Southern Arizona: San Pedro River (between posts 7 and 8), Sabino Creek near the Dam, Santa Cruz River near Tumacacori, Ina Road, and Sasco Road

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Comments: Very similar to Northern Waterthrush; takes naps during the middle of the day

Catching Up: Louisiana Waterthrush

Now for my best find of the winter: the Louisiana Waterthrush. I have been working on a book of "Warblers of Arizona." This little guy has eluded me for several years. It only comes into Southern Arizona in very small numbers and usually solitary when it comes. Over the years one has been spotted near Sabino Canyon Dam, Santa Cruz River near Tumacacori, Santa Cruz River near Ina Road in Tucson, Santa Cruz River at Sasco Road west of Red Rock (north of Tucson), and San Pedro River in Hereford. I have searched all of those places after reports with no luck -- until last month at San Pedro. Here then is the Louisiana Waterthrush:

Louisiana Waterthrush