Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla), upper Verde River, Yavapai County

This Louisiana Waterthrush was discovered by David Moll on 30 December 2011 and photographed by him on 31 December 2011 at the Arizona Game and Fish Campbell Place Parcel. 

Casual winter resident in SE Arizona, where it is more likely to be found in winter than Northern Waterthrush, but it is accidental elsewhere in the state. 

The bill is elliptical, not tapered as with the Northern Waterthrush. The supercilium flares posterior to the eye, not tapers as with Northern Waterthrush. (There is minimal contrast between the pre- and post-ocular supercilium.) The buffy plumage color of the flanks (which continues onto the crissum except on the side margins) contrasts with the light, whitish background color of the underparts. The throat is clear, whitish, unmarked, not finely streaked as with most Northern Waterthrushes . The color of the legs and feet seem to change with lighting but may be best described as flesh-pink. Streaking on the back is subtle. The subocular white arch is well-defined.

31 December 2011, photo by David Moll