Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Louisiana Waterthrush
Parkesia motacilla
Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) is a member of the Parulidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 19.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Parulidae New World Warblers
- Genus Parkesia
- Species motacilla
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Parulidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Louisiana Waterthrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Louisiana Waterthrush is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) is a member of the Parulidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA e USA.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19.9 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 4.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Louisiana Waterthrush?
The Louisiana Waterthrush is a small bird that weighs around 19.9 g.
Where does the Louisiana Waterthrush live?
The Louisiana Waterthrush is found across North America with a range covering NA e USA, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Louisiana Waterthrush belong to?
The Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) belongs to the Parulidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Louisiana Waterthrush eat?
The Louisiana Waterthrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Louisiana Waterthrush migrate?
The Louisiana Waterthrush is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Louisiana Waterthrush endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Louisiana Waterthrush make?
1 real field recording of the Louisiana Waterthrush — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Louisiana Waterthrush's range?
The Louisiana Waterthrush has a mapped global range of about 2.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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