THE LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH, 



Seiurus motacilla. 



The Louisiana Water-thrush is a 

 woodland bird with quite an extended 

 range, which includes all of the eastern 

 United States west to the plains and 

 north to Massachusetts, Michigan and 

 Minnesota. It winters in the region of 

 the Gulf of Mexico and southward into 

 South America. This bird seems to be 

 burdened with long names, for it is also 

 called the Large-billed Water-thrush and 

 Large-billed Wagtail Warbler. The last 

 name is quite appropriate for it, as well 

 as the other water-thrushes, are warblers 

 rather than thrushes. The name Wag- 

 tail well describes one of its most strik- 

 ing characteristics. It is a dignified bird, 

 and as it moves with stately steps along 

 the limb of a tree, or a log upon the 

 ground, the tail moves up and down in 

 rhythm with its step. It is a shy bird 

 and its "never-ceasing alertness suggests 

 the watchfulness of the savage." When 

 discovered and that wall not be until it 

 already knows of the intruder's presence, 

 it sounds an alarm and quickly flies to 

 some distant perch where it watches 

 every movement of the invader, its body 

 constantly teetering as if with suppressed 

 excitement. 



When seeking a nesting site the 

 Water-thrush shows a partiality for wild 

 and favorable localities near a stream of 

 water, especially "where dashing brooks 

 leap down wooded hillsides." At times, 

 however, it will select a retired spot on 

 the wooded banks of a lowland stream 

 or of a lake. The nest is built in some 

 secure retreat among the roots of an 

 overturned tree, in the cavity of an old 

 log or stump, or in the moss under a 

 bank. An impenetrable thicket with a 

 rank growth of ferns and moss, is the 

 usual desideratum when seeking a plare 

 to locate its home. 



The nests are bulkv and constructed 

 with dead leaves, often partly decayed, 

 which are obtained from the muddy 



banks and with the mud still adhering 

 to them. These, with twigs and rootlets, 

 are laid together and when the mud 

 dries all are cemented into a compact 

 mass which forms the wall of the ne£t. 

 This is lined with fine grasses, small 

 roots, bark fibers and feathers or hair. 

 The nest is so similar in color to that of 

 its environment that it is not easily de- 

 tected. 



The Louisiana Water-thrush seldom 

 utters its interesting song when on the 

 ground, but f/om some higher perch or 

 when flying. Audubon thought its song 

 was equal to that of the European night- 

 ingale; that its notes were as powerful 

 and mellow and not infrequently as 

 varied. Dr. Ridgway says, "This may 

 be true of the ecstatic love-song, heard 

 on rare occasions, and uttered as the 

 singer floats in perfect abondon of joy, 

 v/ith spread tail and fluttering wings, but 

 it can hardly be true of the ordinary 

 song, which, although rich, sweet and 

 penetrating, and almost startling in the 

 first impression it creates, is soon fin- 

 ished and the pleasing effect is some- 

 what transient. It cannot be denied,, 

 however, that its song is one of the rich- 

 est to be heard in our forests." 



Another writer speaks of its song as- 

 "a beautiful, wild, wayward effort," and 

 Mr. Chapman says, "As a songster the- 

 Water-thrush is without a rival. His 

 song is not to be compared with the 

 clear-voiced carol of the rose-breasted 

 grosbeak, the plaintive chant of the field 

 sparrow, or the hymnlike melody of the; 

 true thrushes ; it is of a different kind. It 

 is the untamable spirit of the bird ren- 

 dered in music. There is an almost 

 fierce wildness in its ringing notes. On 

 rare occasions he is inspired to voice his 

 passion in a flight-song, which so far 

 exceeds his usual performance that even 

 the memory of it is thrilling." 



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