Waterthrush Finger Lakes, New York State, Aug 14 (1 Viewer)

A

Andy Hartley

Well-known member

• Aug 26, 2014

• #1

Hi,

Just returned from a trip to the US and trying to identify a few birds that I didn't manage to identify while there.

This one was seen in the Finger Lakes area in New York State on the 9th August.

Can anyone please help me identify it? I think its an Louisiana Waterthrush but may be a Northern?

Thanks,

Andy

 

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Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Aug 26, 2014

• #2

I think it's got a lot going for it being Louisiana. Looks like some spotting maybe on the throat side of the malar stripe though(?), but maybe that's ok?

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Aug 26, 2014

• #3

I think Louisiana

Niels

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Aug 26, 2014

• #4

It looks to me like it shows fairly extensive yellow on the underparts and to some extent on the supercillium. There's also a bit of streaking visible on the throat. I think it's a Northern Waterthrush.

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Aug 26, 2014

• #5

You may very well be right Andrew, and the images aren't that clear.

To me though it looks pretty white underneath with contrasting (possibly) more peachy flanks. The super looks flared at the rear, and whitish except towards the bill, the underpart streaking looks comparatively sparse and blotchy. My impression is that the bird looks pretty stocky, with a reasonably strong bill, and the leg colour looks ok(ish) for Louie. There may also only be a couple of tiny streaks within the throat (hard to see on these pics).

It's far from easy for me anyway!

 

A

Andy Hartley

Well-known member

• Aug 26, 2014

• #6

Thanks guys, a couple more photos with a better view of the throat.

Do these help?

Thanks, Andy

 

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njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Aug 26, 2014

• #7

I based my opinion on super flared at the rear, buffy (not yellow) in front of eye but white behind, buffy flanks and sides in contrast to other parts of the underside being white. I think I have seen that the yellowish form of NW is more evenly yellow on underside? And Sibley's drawing indicates that NW has the front end of the super being the whitest part.

Niels

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Aug 26, 2014

• #8

The throat streaks are really bothering me now, as is the extent of the streaking on the unds. Getting mixed messages. Be good to hear from people who live among them!

 

A

Andy Hartley

Well-known member

• Aug 26, 2014

• #9

Thanks again guys, the photo's are not great, I was over exposing for a different shot and forgot to reset! which is why they are bit washed out.

This is another shot from a different angle.

Thanks, Andy

 

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njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Aug 27, 2014

• #10

Take a look here, and notice the exceptions such as

Some Northerns have only a few small spots at lower end of throat, some Louisianas have scattered small dots over throat.

Click to expand...

Niels

 

nartreb

Speak softly and carry a long lens

• Aug 27, 2014

• #11

Tough call, but the patchy distribution of the buffy/yellow color (could be overexposed buffy, could just be yellow) - i.e., rear flanks and shoulder flanks - is better for Louisiana, and so is the habitat. I think the spotting is sparse enough, including on the throat, to point to Louisiana as well.

 

A

Andy Hartley

Well-known member

• Aug 27, 2014

• #12

Thank you everyone, looks like its probabbly a Louisiana

Andy

 

K

Kratter

Well-known member

• Aug 27, 2014

• #13

I usually do not have much trouble figuring out waterthrushes, given good looks/pics, but the original photos were rather confounding. The last photo however, looks best for Louisiana, with the contrasting white belly and buff flanks clearly shown (and not a result of reflected light). Northerns are usually rather evenly yellowish below (the suffusion of yellow varying greatly). The streaking below is a bit more dense than usual in LAWA, and the bill doesn't look as big as usual, but the brighter pinks legs, buff flanks, white belly, and mostly umarked throat are good for Louisiana.
Andy