Identification

Large (15 cm length; 21 g mass) warbler with grayish-olive upperparts. Underparts white, with bold, blackish-streaked spots on the lower throat, breast, and sides. Legs pinkish. Sexes identical.

Generally distinctive, and confusion only likely with the relatively similar waterthrushes: Lousiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla) and Northern Waterthrush (S. noveboracensis). Distinguished from those species by bold white eyering, rufous crown bordered with black stripes, the absence of a buffy or white eye stripe (present in both waterthrushes), rounder shape, and olive back color (vs. brown).

Fall immatures generally less brightly colored on the crown, with olive tips of the crown feathers broader, occasionally obscuring the rufous. Immature's tertials fringed tawny to dull rufous, outer greater coverts sometimes tipped with buff, but these wear away by spring when distinguishing ages becomes especially difficult.