Along with its cousin the Louisiana Waterthrush and the forest-living
Ovenbird, the Northern Waterthrush is one of the only warblers colored like a
sparrow or thrush, with a plain brown back and dark-streaked white
underparts. It is also one of the few warblers to forage on the ground,
patrolling the water's edge. As it strolls the mud, its backside constantly
pumping up and down, it's easy to see why people might have a hard time
believing this bird is related to the gaudy Yellow Warbler or Prothonotary
Warbler.
Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes challenge birders' identification skills
whenever both of these look-alike species occur in the same area. They
certainly confused early naturalists. Apparently, though, the birds clearly
recognize their differences: Even when they breed in the same areas, the
two species do not compete with each other, nor do they hybridize. How
might evolution have played a role in partitioning these closely related birds?
Read on to find out more: abcbirds.org/bird/northern-wa...