Louisiana Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush
Credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Louisiana Waterthrushes are drab in comparison to other warblers. They are brown on top and pale below. They have a white eyebrow stripe and long pink legs.

  • Parkesia motacilla
  • Length: 5.9-6.1 in (15-15.5 cm)
  • Weight: 0.6-0.8 oz (18.2-22.9 g)
  • Wingspan: 9.4-10.6 in (24-27 cm)

Range

Louisiana Waterthrush breed in eastern US states and can be seen in the southeast during migration. They spend the winter in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, arriving back in spring early in the year.

Habitat And Diet

You can find Louisiana Waterthrush along streams and moving water in woodlands hunting for insects, vertebrates, and larvae.

Louisiana Waterthrushes’ Song:

Nests

Nests of Louisiana Waterthrush are along the bank of a stream and hidden in roots or under logs. The nest is made from leaves, pine needles, and other plant material and is held together with mud.

This is then lined with softer materials such as moss and hair. They lay up to six eggs, which take up to two weeks to hatch.

Fun Fact:

You can tell Louisiana, and Northern Waterthrushes apart by the larger bill of Louisiana and its preference for running water, but Northern Waterthrushes prefer still water.