Northern Waterthrush

A shy bird normally found in thickets around streams and ponds, the Northern Waterthrush can often be seen bobbing its hindquarters up and down as it searches for food.  In South Dakota, they are found as migrants, with sightings possible in both the spring and fall seasons. One of the earliest fall migrants, some Northern Waterthrush may start their southward movements as early as the middle of July.

Habitat:

Can appear in nearly any habitat during migration through the state, but is most often found in woods and thickets around water bodies.  Generally breeds in forested wetlands (out-of-state).

Diet:

Primarily insects.  Will also eat crustaceans, mollusks, slugs, and small fish.

Behavior:

Usually close to water habitats, foraging on the ground as well as in shallow water for insects and other prey items. 

Breeding:

Non-breeder in South Dakota. On breeding grounds, the nest is a open cup of leaves, mosses, twigs, and bark, placed in a protected area such as in a stump or in an area protected by tree roots.  The female lays 4 or 5 eggs, with the female alone incubating them.  Upon hatching, both parents feed the young, which leave the nest after about 10 days.

Song:

Northern Waterthrush have multiple songs and call notes. The most frequently heard song is a musical suite of three distinct elements, often described as sweet-sweet-sweet swee- swee-swee chew- chew- chew. Another song begins with a few high-pitched notes, followed by a jumbled mix of short musical notes and phrases. Calls include a loud zink.

• Click here to hear the song of a Northern Waterthrush¹
• Click here to hear the short call notes of a Northern Waterthrush²
• Click here to hear another song of a Northern Waterthrush³

Migration:

Summers throughout Canada and the northern and northeastern United States. Winters in Florida, Mexico, and points south. In South Dakota, they are migrants, seen in both the spring and fall seasons.

Interactive eBird Map:

Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Northern Waterthrush sightings

Similar Species:

Northern Waterthrush lack the brilliant colors of many warbler species that migrate through the state, but there are a few other species they could potentially be confused with, particularly one very close relative:

• Louisiana Waterthrush - Louisiana Waterthrush are far less common in South Dakota than Northern Waterthrush, as they are considered rare migrants. The two are very similar in appearance, but Louisiana Waterthrush appear to have more white in their base plumage than the more buffy Northern Waterthrush. The eyebrow is noticeably white on a Louisiana Waterthrush, and is typically broader at the rear of the eyebrow stripe than is the more buffy, thinner stripe of a Northern Waterthrush. Northern Waterthrush have denser striping on their underparts than does a Louisiana Waterthrush. The underparts also appear whiter than the buffier underparts of a Northern Waterthrush.
• Ovenbird - A common migrant and summer resident in parts of South Dakota, Ovenbirds make the list because they're another brownish, striped warblers that stay low to the forest floor. Ovenbirds are a richer, reddish brown color, while Northern Waterthrush are a grayish-brown on their upperparts. Ovenbirds have a white eyering and an orange and black-bordered crown stripe that are lacking on a Northern Waterthrush, while the Northern Waterthrush has an eyebrow that's lacking on the Ovenbird.
• Worm-eating Warbler - Worm-eating Warbler makes the list as it's another brownish warbler that stays low to the ground and has an obvious eyebrow. They are very rare migrants in South Dakota, however, and lack the striping and their underparts that are so characteristic of a Northern Waterthrush. They also have a stronger buffier color on their head than the plainer Northern Waterthrush.

Louisiana Waterthrush	Ovenbird	Ovenbird	Worm-eating Warbler

South Dakota "Hotspot":

Northern Waterthrush are most often seen near the edges of water bodies, in forested areas. Great locations to look for them in spring migration include areas like the oxbows around the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, creekside at Beaver Creek Nature Area, or the area along Sergeant Creek at Newton Hills State Park.

Conservation Status:

Numbers appear to be stable, they are common in many parts of their normal range, and they are found over a wide geographic range. The IUCN lists the Northern Waterthrush as a species of "Least Concern".

Further Information:

• BirdWeb - Northern Waterthrush
• WhatBird - Northern Waterthrush
• Audubon Guide - Northern Waterthrush

Image Information:

Photo taken on September 2nd, 2012 - Minnehaha County, South Dakota - Terry Sohl

Audio File Credits

• ¹Christopher McPherson. Recorded in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire on May 2nd, 2020. Original recording and information available from xeno-canto.
• ²Manuel Grosselet. Recorded in Sinaloa, Mexico on July 8th, 2020. Original recording and information available from xeno-canto.
• ³Frank Lambert. Recorded near Nome, Alaska on June 1st, 2015. Original recording and information available from xeno-canto.

Click on the map below for a higher-resolution view

South Dakota Status: Uncommon migrant.

Additional Northern Waterthrush Photos
Click for a higher-resolution version of these photos