Plain brown above, it is white below, with black streaks and with buff flanks and undertail, distinguishing it from the closely related northern waterthrush.

They are also one of the earliest warblers to vacate their breeding grounds, with some departing as early as July; almost all will have left by late August.

The Louisiana waterthrush has a plain brown back and white underparts streaked with black.

The main confusion species is the closely related northern waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis),[2] which has white flanks and undertail, a striped throat, a slightly smaller bill, a shorter supercilium and duller pink legs.

The breeding habitat is wet woodlands near running water and does not occur outside such areas as a breeder.

[7] The northern waterthrush prefers stagnant, swampy waters and is generally a more terrestrial forager.

Both parents construct the nest, which is built from wet, muddy leaves, pine needles, grass, and small twigs.

Timber harvesting, agriculture, urban development and gas drilling may further reduce the available habitat for this species.

Threats to the Canadian population of this species include reduced insect prey and reductions in water supply due to agricultural drainage, excessive irrigation and climate change, as well as logging and habitat fragmentation.