Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla), Patagonia Roadside Rest, Santa Cruz County

This Louisiana Waterthrush was discovered 16 December 2010 by Mark Stevenson on private property (permission granted for CBC), but is occasionally visible from the Patagonia Roadside Rest.  It was photographed by Andrew Core on 07 January 2011 and Alan Schmierer on 08 January 2011.

Louisiana Waterthrush is a very sparse transient and winter resident in southeastern Arizona.

Most Northern Waterthrushes will have some spotting or streaking on the throat, and most Louisiana Waterthrushes have unspotted, unstreaked throats. There is some individual variation, so other marks should be considered as well.

Throat: When facing the observer, the throat of a Louisiana Waterthrush should appear as a white oval, extending into the chest. Also the background color is always white, regardless of spotting. The throat of a Northern Waterthrush is often buffy or yellowish.

Supercilium: Note the shape and color; behind the eye of a Louisiana the supercilium broadens and is always bright white

Breast streaking is variable, but generally the streaks on a Northern are denser and bolder and come together at the throat. Louisianas tend to have lighter streaks, and as noted before, heavy streaks are absent from the throat and extreme upper chest.

07 January 2011, photo by Andrew Core

08 January 2011, photo by Alan Schmierer

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