A Northern Waterthrush has been on St Mary’s for over seven months. This bird was first seen on the 17^th September 2011 and the last time one of these birds had been seen was 15 years earlier.

Northern Waterthrush

The Northern Waterthrush - Parkesia noveboracensis breeds in the northern part of  North America and Canada. This bird is migratory, wintering in Central America and certain parts of South America. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

Description

The Northern Waterthrush is a large new world warbler. The crown is brown with a white supercilium. The bill is pointed and dark. The throat is lightly streaked brown to black with heavier streaking continuing onto the breast and flanks. The back is evenly brown. Sexes are morphologically similar. Young birds have buff, rather than white underparts. This bird constantly bobs its tail.

Call

Its call is a hard chink. A loud, ringing song swee swee chit chit weedleoo.

Food

It is a terrestrial feeder, eating insects, mollusks and crustaceans.

Breeding

Breeds in thickets near slow-moving streams, ponds, swamps, and bogs. It nests in a stump or among tree roots, laying three to six eggs, which are cream/buff-coloured, with brown and gray spots. These eggs are laid in a cup nest constructed of leaves, bark strips, and rootlets. Females incubate the eggs for two weeks. Once the eggs hatch, both parents feed the nestlings incessantly. The young grow quickly and nine days after hatching they are ready to leave the nest. Even so, they are still dependent on their parents for food for several weeks.

Conservation Status –Least Concern

Common and widespread. But can the northern waterthrush keep to its routines in the face of human impacts on the habitats it uses? We know that mangroves—its primary winter habitat—are under threat from development, logging, and conversion to fish farms. These trees are key to the survival of a whole range of birds, reptiles, and mammals.

Birdwatching

Most people in the United States see northern waterthrushes at this time, when they are migrating. Look for them in the wettest parts of suburban back yards and city parks.

Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a custom tour for you to see these beautiful birds.