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Northern Waterthrush

(Seiurus noveboracensis)
Banded September 21, 1998 - Carmel, Indiana

General Information

The Northern Waterthrush, a member of the warbler family, migrates from its home in the Neotropical Zone to breed in the forests of Canada and the higher altitudes of the northern Rockies and Appalachian Mountains.

During migration, they are commonly seen in the USA as they make their way to and from their breeding grounds.

Their winter home is coastal Mexico, northern South America and the islands of the Caribbean. They are similar to and closely related to the Louisiana Waterthrush, a species with a more southerly breeding range in the eastern half of the USA.

It characteristically wades in water and teeters and bobs its tail as it walks along the water's edge. 

The Northern Waterthrush is identified by its brownish back, distinct supercilium strips and heavily streaked underparts. The throat, underparts and suprecilium usually show a buffy or yellowish color.

Figure 1- Northern Waterthrush

Figure 2 - Northern Waterthrush

It is 5 to 6.5 inches long. Weights range from 13.8 to 24.4 grams.

The crown, back and tail are a uniform dark brown.

Up close, the Northern Waterthrush is separated from the Louisiana Waterthrush by the fine streaking on the throat. The eye stripe is the same dark brown color as the crown and back.

Figure 3 - Northern Waterthrush

Figure 4 -Under Tail Covert Markings

In the hand, the large dark centers of the undertail coverts are diagnostic and separate the Northern from the similar Louisiana Waterthrush (that has small, diffuse gray centers on the undertail coverts).

Flight feathers are uniformly brown.

Figure 5 - Primary Flight Feathers - Northern Waterthrush

Figure 6 - Wing Coverts - Northern Waterthrush

Wing coverts are brown with an olive tinge.

An olive tinge can also be seen on the upper tail coverts. Also note the whitish edge on the tips of the outer tail feathers.

Figure 7 - Tail - Northern Waterthrush

Figure 8 - Underwing and Flanks

The underside is buffy yellowish with heavy brown streaking.

Nesting Behavior

Northern Waterthrushes breed in northern wetlands or near water. The female builds a cup nest of moss, twigs, pine needles, and bark strips usually located in a cavity or a rotten tree trunk or in the tangled roots of a fallen tree. From 4 to 5 eggs are incubated by the female and hatch in about 12 to 13 days. Both parents care for the young who leave the nest in about 10 days.

Banding Recoveries

The Bird Banding Lab web site reports that between 1955 and 1997, a total of 18,658 Northern Waterthrushes were banded. Of these, only 7 have ever been recovered, a very low recovery rate of 0.037%.

Banding studies show that the Northern Waterthrush can live up to 7 years in the wild. They are short to long distance migrants that winter in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America.

If you should recover a banded bird, please report the band number to the Bird Banding Lab by calling 1-800-327-BAND.

Economic Importance
and Conservation Status

Northern Waterthrush populations seem to be holding steady and in some regions are increasing. The breeding habitat in Canada is probably less disturbed than other regions of North America, leading to a higher breeding success rate.

Northern Waterthrushes consume insects such as weevils, beetles, caterpillars, moths, slugs, crustaceans and small fish. By consuming harmful insect pests, they perform an important economic benefit.

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