# Louisiana Waterthrush (*Parkesia motacilla*) The Louisiana Waterthrush is a small bird that loves to live near water. It has a beautiful song and is known for hopping around on the ground looking for tasty bugs and worms. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Louisiana Waterthrush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Louisiana_Waterthrush_%28Parkesia_motacilla%29_%2830117012420%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dominic Sherony, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Louisiana_Waterthrush_%28Parkesia_motacilla%29_%2830117012420%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Louisiana Waterthrush is a medium-sized warbler with a brownish-olive back and clean white underparts, streaked faintly with dark brown. A prominent white stripe above its eye, called a supercilium, contrasts sharply with its dark crown, and it has pinkish legs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Parulidae - **Genus:** Parkesia ## Interesting facts - Each male defends a long stretch of stream, announcing his territory with a powerful, echoing song. - They are very picky about their homes, needing pristine, fast-flowing forest streams to thrive. - This tiny warbler often walks \*underwater\* to find its favorite food, aquatic insect larvae! - Unlike most warblers, they spend their days walking along the ground near water, not in trees! ## Special abilities - **Stream Stalker:** Louisiana Waterthrush can wade and walk along streambeds, using its long legs to hunt aquatic insects in rushing water. - **Tail Teeter:** Has a distinctive tail-bobbing motion that helps it balance on slippery rocks and blends into the moving water. - **Sonic Streamer:** Can sing a loud, rapid, and complex song that cuts through the noise of its fast-flowing stream habitat. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 14-16 cm - **Wingspan:** 23-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.017-0.021 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-8 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-6 - **Incubation:** 12-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 3500 km ## Diet & Feeding They mostly eat insects and larvae found in or near freshwater streams. - **Primary Foods:** Caddisfly larvae, Mayfly nymphs, Stonefly nymphs, Aquatic beetles, Small crustaceans, Spiders - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Sharp-shinned Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sharp-shinned-hawk) (*Accipiter striatus*) — A swift predator that hunts small birds. - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Preys on eggs and nestlings. - **Eats:** Spotted Mayfly (*Stenacron interpunctatum*) — Feeds on larvae and nymphs in streams. - **Eaten by:** [American Mink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-mink) (*Mustela vison*) — A riparian predator that preys on ground-nesting birds. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Louisiana Waterthrush? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Louisiana Waterthrush? 14-16 cm ### What is Louisiana Waterthrush's wingspan? 23-25 cm ### How much does Louisiana Waterthrush weigh? 0.017-0.021 kg ### How long does Louisiana Waterthrush live? 3-8 years ### How fast can Louisiana Waterthrush move? 45 km/h ### What does Louisiana Waterthrush eat? They mostly eat insects and larvae found in or near freshwater streams. ### Where is Louisiana Waterthrush usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Chambers County Courthouse Square Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chambers-county-courthouse-square-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Rutgers Ecological Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutgers-ecological-preserve) — New Jersey, US · Nature Reserve - [California Citrus State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/california-citrus-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Eno River State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eno-river-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park - [Harpers Ferry Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harpers-ferry-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Petersburg Old Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/petersburg-old-town-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District [View all places to see Louisiana Waterthrush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/louisiana-waterthrush) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Louisiana Waterthrush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/louisiana-waterthrush)