Checklist S150439356
Sharing links
Totals
Observations
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 8
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 6
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 1
Media
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 1
Details
Wowza! First detected by a series of chip notes as I was biking along the creek on the bike path. I've been on the lookout for northern waterthrush for my year list, so I immediately got off my bike, started recording with my phone, and got closer. It sounded like a waterthrush, but not exactly the metallic like chip that I associate with northern waterthrush, and I've never previously seen a Louisiana waterthrush, so their calls were unfamiliar to me. The call was similar to northern waterthrush in cadence, but more of a ‘chunk’ than a ‘chink’ sound. Recording attached of part of the first series of chips I originally detected the bird by.
When it stopped calling, I carefully walked into the vegetation to get a view of the creek bed, and confirmed that there was indeed a waterthrush. I assumed northern because the habitat didn't seem great for Louisiana, with no rocks whatsoever, and snapped a few mediocre photos. Then I noticed that some parts of the bird looked better for Louisiana, with bright pink legs, an unmarked white throat, peachy buffy wash to the flanks, large bill, and relatively small amount of streaking. I proceeded to get much better looks and photos to study the bird, and got on the phone with Wes Fritz and Paul Lehman for other opinions. After speaking to them both I was very confident that this bird was in fact a Louisiana waterthrush, and proceeded to spread the word, with dozens of observers coming to see it throughout the rest of the day. The bird seemed to be working a stretch of the creek about 300 m in length (according to the various pins I saved throughout the day), mainly foraging by flipping leaves in the mud, and occasionally flying up into the willows and sycamores, up to maybe 5-8 meters high. It was also quite vocal most of the time and calling loudly, making it fairly easy to relocate. We never lost it for more than about 20 minutes at a time, and I usually refound it by checking the next closest access point to the creek. Many photos obtained.
The stretch in which I observed it throughout the day was from (34.423463,-119.818513) to (34.423348,-119.815423). The bird may have been past this stretch at various times, but that's the stretch it was observed in.
Details about the field marks used in the identification:
Shape: Large, fairly chunky warbler, generally standing with its body held horizontal to the ground. The bill was large and chunky for a warbler, especially as compared to the bill of a northern waterthrush. Tail was fairly short with the UTCs reaching pretty close to the end of the tail.
Head: Striking white supercilium with no buffy color whatsoever that got slightly thicker as it reached the back of the head. Less distinct white malar and small white line just under the eye. The head was otherwise all brown except for some white showing on the lower cheek. The eye looked jet black.
Upperparts: The entire back was a dark brown color, a little lighter than is typical with northern waterthrush. The wings were the same brown, but in good light sometimes showing some thin straight white lines seemingly belonging to the shafts of the primaries. Tail also the same brown color.
Underparts: Completely white base, with a salmon-buffy wash to the flanks. The throat was completely white, save for some tiny black streaks at the bottom. The breast streaking was less extensive than northern waterthrush, though perhaps more sharply defined than the 'typical' Louisiana streaking, except this is a variable field mark in both species. The under tail coverts were completely white.
Legs: These were a bright bubblegum pink color, unlike northern waterthrush.
Behavior: The bird spent the majority of its time foraging in the wet mud, flipping leaves for invertebrates. I watched it consume prey on multiple occasions. As it foraged, it pumped it's tail in a somewhat circular motion, with most of the movement being up and down but some sideways movement giving it that circular look. I have a video of this behavior, but I'm not able to attach it. When agitated, the bird occasionally flew up into the trees above calling frequently.