Bird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Parkesia motacillaThe Louisiana Waterthrush is a large brown warbler with a bold white eyebrow, streaked underparts, and a habit of constantly bobbing its rear body. It walks along fast forest streams, picking aquatic invertebrates from rocks, roots, and shallow water.
Stream WarblerTail-bobbing ForagerMigratory Songbird
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCaddisfly larvae, Mayfly nymphs, Small crustaceans
Predators
- Rat snakes
- Cooper's Hawks
- Raccoons
ThreatsRiparian clearing, stream pollution, sedimentation, forest fragmentation, and collisions during migration
HabitatsShaded headwater streams, wooded ravines, forested swamps, and clear rocky creeks
Life spanTypically several years; some banded adults have lived for more than a decade
Classification
- FamilyParulidae
- SpeciesParkesia motacilla
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Keep out of the stream channel and remain distant from root cavities used for nesting.
Responsible observation
- Motion: Watch for a bird repeatedly bobbing beside fast, rocky water.
- Face: Note the broad white eyebrow and clean white throat above streaked underparts.
- Distance: Observe from the established bank without following the bird upstream.
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