TheÃÂ northern waterthrushÃÂ Parkesia noveboracensis is one of the largerÃÂ New World warblersÃÂ and one of the Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbirds. It breeds in the northern part of North America inÃÂ CanadaÃÂ and the northern United StatesÃÂ includingÃÂ Alaska. This bird isÃÂ migratory, wintering in Central America, theÃÂ West Indians andÃÂ Florida, as well as inÃÂ Venezuela, Colombia andÃÂ Ecuador. It is a very rare vagrant to other South American countries andÃÂ western Europe. The northern waterthrush is a largeÃÂ New World warblerÃÂ and not aÃÂ thrush, despite the name. The only species bird watchers confuse with the northern waterthrush is the closely relatedÃÂ Louisiana waterthrushÃÂ Parkesia motacilla, which has buff flanks, a buff undertail, and bright pink legs. The Louisiana waterthrush also has a whiter throat with fewer streaks. More subtle clues include smaller size and smaller bill, a narrower and darker eye-line, and different call note and habits. Both waterthrush species walk rather than hop, and seem to teeter, since they bob their rear ends as they move along. The breeding habitat of the northern waterthrush is wet woodlands near water. It nests in a stump or among tree roots where it lays three to six eggs, cream- or buff-colored, with brown and gray spots. These eggs are laid in a cup nest constructed of leaves, bark strips, and rootlets. The northern waterthrush is a terrestrial ground feeder eatingÃÂ insects,ÃÂ mollusks, andÃÂ crustaceansÃÂ found amongst leaf litter.
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