Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) is in the New World Warblers family (Parulidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 10,164 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Northern Waterthrush: observations by month (U.S.)
About Northern Waterthrush
The northern waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) is one of the larger New World warblers and one of the Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbirds. It breeds in the northern part of North America in Canada and the northern United States including Alaska. This bird is migratory, wintering in Central America, the West Indies and Florida, as well as in Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. It is a very rare vagrant to other South American countries and to western Europe.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Northern Waterthrush by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,693 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 1,136 | May | Apr–May |
| Florida | 905 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Illinois | 800 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 413 | May | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 383 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 324 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 279 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 278 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 264 | May | May–May |
| California | 257 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 247 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 242 | May | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 209 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Vermont | 207 | May | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 200 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Tennessee | 196 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 175 | May | Apr–May |
| Alaska | 163 | June | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 148 | May | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 140 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Arizona | 137 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Alabama | 127 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 119 | May | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 99 | May | May–May |
| New Mexico | 93 | May | May–May |
| Colorado | 92 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 83 | May | May–Sep |
| South Carolina | 75 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Montana | 65 | June | May–Aug |
| Iowa | 57 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 44 | April | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 44 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Mississippi | 41 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Washington | 41 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Nebraska | 39 | May | May–May |
| Kansas | 38 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 35 | May | Apr–May |
| West Virginia | 33 | May | May–Jul |
| Utah | 31 | May | May–May |
| Arkansas | 29 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 28 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 26 | May | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 24 | May | May–May |
| Rhode Island | 24 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 23 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 19 | May | May–May |
| Wyoming | 16 | May | May–May |
| Idaho | 13 | June | May–Aug |
| Nevada | 10 | September | Aug–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Warblers)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Pine Warbler
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Northern Waterthrush?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Northern Waterthrush most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, New York, Florida.