Guide to North American Birds
Conservation status Could be vulnerable to loss of habitat, especially on wintering grounds, but surveys suggest that numbers are currently stable.
Family Wood Warblers
Habitat Swampy or wet woods, streamsides, lake shores; in migration, also thickets. Breeds mostly in coniferous forests with standing or sluggish water, as found in shrubby bogs and edges of northern lakes, less often along swift streams. In migration, may appear in any habitat; more frequent in thickets along edges of water. In winter in tropics, often in coastal mangrove swamps.
The Northern Waterthrush is likely to be found around bogs and streams inside the forest. Often shy and hard to approach, it draws attention with its odd 'teetering' behavior -- bobbing the rear half of its body up and down constantly as it walks -- and with its loud metallic callnote. It has a wide distribution in both summer (Alaska to New Jersey) and winter (Florida to South America).

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Feeding Behavior

Walks on ground and wades in shallow water. Often forages on half-submerged logs. Uncovers prey by tossing aside dead and soggy leaves found in rock crevices. Defends winter feeding territories against other waterthrushes.


Eggs

4-5, sometimes 3-6. Whitish, with brown, purple-gray spots and blotches. Incubation is by female, 12-13 days. In southern part of range, often parasitized by cowbirds. Young: Fed by both parents. Young leave the nest approximately 10 days after hatching, can fly well by about a week later.


Young

Fed by both parents. Young leave the nest approximately 10 days after hatching, can fly well by about a week later.

Diet

Aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans. Feeds mainly on insects, including water beetles, water bugs, flea beetles, damselflies, weevils, mosquitoes, ants, fly pupae, caterpillars, moths; also some slugs, snails, crustaceans, and occasionally small fish. Takes mostly insects in winter, also some small crustaceans and other invertebrates.


Nesting

Males sing throughout the breeding season, not ceasing after pair formation; song apparently serves to defend territory. Sometimes sings in flight. Nest site is usually in a small hollow in a moss-covered stump, under a jutting bank, or 0-2' above the ground in roots of uprooted tree, typically very near water. Nest is in shape of open cup, often well hidden among ferns. Constructed by female of leaf skeletons, sphagnum moss, pine needles, twigs, inner bark, and lined with soft material such as red moss filaments.

Illustration © David Allen Sibley.
Learn more about these drawings.

Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from
Lives of North American Birds

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Migration

Migrates mostly at night. Does not migrate north as early in spring as Louisiana Waterthrush. As a migrant, common in the East, scarce in most parts of the West.

  • All Seasons - Common
  • All Seasons - Uncommon
  • Breeding - Common
  • Breeding - Uncommon
  • Winter - Common
  • Winter - Uncommon
  • Migration - Common
  • Migration - Uncommon

See a fully interactive migration map for this species on the Bird Migration Explorer.

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Songs and Calls

Song chee-chee-chee, chip-chip-chip-chew-chew-chew, loud and ringing, speeding up at the end. Call a sharp chink.
Audio © Lang Elliott, Bob McGuire, Kevin Colver, Martyn Stewart and others.
Learn more about this sound collection.