Birds · Passeriformes · Cinclidae

White-throated Dipper

Cinclus cinclus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The white-throated dipper is a plump brown bird with a striking white bib, and the only European passerine that dives. It walks along the bed of mountain rivers against the current looking for aquatic insect larvae among the stones. It is a first-rate bioindicator: it disappears from polluted or altered stretches, and its presence certifies a river in good ecological condition.

Weight

50 g – 90 g

Size

17 cm – 20 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

MountainFreshwaterInsectivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Mountain Freshwater

13countries 68parks

Fun facts

It is the only passerine in the world that dives and walks along the river bed: it grips the stones with its claws and uses the current over its angled back to hold itself down instead of floating up.
It has a transparent third eyelid that it uses as diving goggles, nostrils with a flap that closes underwater, and a preen gland ten times larger than that of a land bird to waterproof its plumage.
Its presence on a stretch of river is used as an official indicator of water quality in several European countries.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Fast-flowing mountain rivers and streams with clean water and a stony bed
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 16 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 5 eggs

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/