Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
PARULIDAE Members:
General Comments
The Northern Waterthrush is one of the few warblers that nests from coast to coast, though this range lies primarily in Canada, as well as Alaska and the states just south of Canada. It does nest down the Appalachian chain, but only to West Virginia and very rarely to Virginia. It winters mainly in the tropics, and thus is a pure migrant through North Carolina, occurring in all counties in spring and/or fall. Unlike its close relative, the Louisiana Waterthrush, the Northern is found only along more sluggish, standing water in hardwood areas, such as wooded pools, slow-moving streams, swampy places, margins of beaver ponds, and margins of lakes and ponds. In recent years, a few birds have lingered near the state's coast into early and mid-winter, though it is far from being a winter resident.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
The species' status on the List of Bird Species of North Carolina: either Definitive, Provisional, or Extinct, as administered by the NC Bird Records Committee. The Provisional List contains species for which there are less than three accepted sight (i.e., non-documented) records. Species of unaccepted origin are not included on the List of Bird Species of North Carolina.
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
SZ
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Transient, and a very sparse early winter straggler. In spring, generally uncommon in the western half of the region, but is less numerous eastward, and rare to very uncommon near the coast. In fall, somewhat more numerous; uncommon to fairly common over the region as a whole. Mainly late Apr to mid-May, and early Aug to mid-Oct. Winter records: at least six reports in Dec, one for 4 Jan, one for 23 Jan, and most significantly, one at Mattamuskeet NWR on 1 Feb 2009* (photo). Peak counts:
Piedmont
Transient. Uncommon to fairly common essentially across the entire region, in both spring and fall; presumably less numerous in the foothills (uncommon), where suitable habitat is less frequent than farther east. Mainly late Apr to mid-May, and mid-Aug to early Oct. Winter records: 1, Chapel Hill area, 17 Jan 1982; and 1, Blair Mill Park (Union), 5 Dec 2023. Peak counts:
Mountains
Transient. Mostly uncommon, at lower to middle elevations; presumably quite scarce over about 4,500 feet, due to scarcity of suitable habitat. Mainly late Apr to late May, and mid-Aug to early Oct. One winter record: at Beaver Lake (Buncombe), late fall into 12 Dec 2016. One photographed at Brevard College (Transylvania) from 7 Mar - 1 Apr 2022 suggests a possibly overwintering bird. Peak counts: 13, Jackson Park (Henderson), 17 May 1996.
Finding Tips
**
If you bird in suitable damp wooded areas over a several-day period in early May, or in Sep, you stand a decent chance of seeing it. Places such as Mason Farm near Chapel Hill, Howell Woods (Johnston), and Jackson Park in Hendersonville are suitable sites for finding it, though you can never expect to see or hear one on a given day.