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Seiurus noveboracensis

Photo by Dave Hawkins

Identification

Small songbird. Brown back. Whitish or creamy underside with dark stripes. Whitish or yellowish eyestripe. Constantly bobs its tail.

Size: 12-14 cm (5-6 in) Wingspan: 21-24 cm (8-9 in) Weight: 13-25 g (0.46-0.88 ounces)

Sexes look alike.

Distribution

Northern Waterthrush: Breeds from Alaska and much of Canada south to the northern U.S. Spends winters in the tropics.

Taxonomy

Habitat

Prefers cool, dark, wooded swamps, thickets of bogs, margins of northern lakes, and willow and alder bordered rivers; during the spring and fall migration, often found in thick cover along streams, marshes, and stagnant pools.

Behaviour

A bird of northern forests, the Northern Waterthrush sings it loud, ringing song from wooded swamps and bogs. It can be seen on migration bobbing its tail near wet spots in parks or back yards. Song loud and ringing, starts with several phrases on one pitch, followed by an accelerating jumble of short, rapid phrases dropping slightly in pitch. Call a sharp, metallic "chink."

The Northern Waterthrush is territorial in both winter and summer. On the breeding grounds the male proclaims its territory with its loud, ringing song. On the wintering grounds it uses its "chink" calls, together with chasing and fighting, to keep out intruders.

External Links

• View more images of Northern Waterthrush in the gallery