Northern Waterthrush: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Birds of North America · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. Don't let the name fool you: the waterthrush is not a thrush at all, but a large New World warbler.
2. It walks instead of hopping, and bobs its tail end up and down as it goes, so it seems to teeter along.
3. It hunts on the ground for insects, snails and worms in fallen leaves, and wades into water to catch tiny fish.
4. Wintering in Puerto Rico, waterthrushes leave their feeding spots each evening and fly up to 2 km to sleep, often in red mangroves.
5. Its scientific name, noveboracensis, means from New York. An early writer said it was found in the hedges around that city.

The quiz

1. What kind of bird is the northern waterthrush really?

• A thrush
• A New World warbler (correct)
• A wagtail
• A kingfisher

Despite its name, it is a large New World warbler.

2. How does a waterthrush move on the ground?

• It hops with both feet
• It slides on its belly
• It walks and bobs its tail end (correct)
• It only flies short hops

It walks rather than hops, bobbing its rear as it goes.

3. How does the waterthrush catch small fish?

• By wading through water (correct)
• By diving from high in the air
• By swimming underwater
• By stealing them from herons

It finds minnows by wading through water.

4. In Puerto Rico, where do waterthrushes often spend the night?

• In caves
• On city rooftops
• On sandy beaches
• In red mangroves (correct)

They fly up to 2 km to night roosts, often in red mangroves.

5. Which city is named in the waterthrush's scientific name?

• Boston
• New York (correct)
• Chicago
• Toronto

Noveboracensis means from New York.

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