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White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) Alternate name(s): "European Dipper", "Dipper" German name(s): "Wasseramsel", "Eurasische Wasseramsel" Size: 17-20 cm; wing span 25.5-30 cm Body mass: 49-84 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.40-0.55

Europe: Family Group 19 Family Group 19 Table European Robin Common Redstart Black Redstart Bluethroat Whinchat European Stonechat Common Rock Thrush Blue Rock Thrush Common Nightingale Northern Wheatear Isabelline Wheatear Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Black Wheatear White-throated Dipper Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description White-throated Dippers are rotund, short-tailed birds. Their plumage is mostly grey-brown, with brown head and nape of the neck and slate-grey upperparts. The front is white, while the wings and tail are brown. The bill is dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See White-throated Dipper at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the White-throated Dipper is available HERE . There are at least 13 races of White-throated Dippers, which altogether populate parts of Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent (for details see a field guide). Many birds from the northern parts of their range migrate southwards during the northern winter, but otherwise the species is sedentary. In Europe, including the British Isles, White-throated Dippers are found as permanent residents in all hilly or mountainous regions. In Denmark, most of Finland and in the Baltic states they are winter visitors. Except in their wintering grounds, they are not found in low-lying country due to a lack of fast-flowing water. White-throated Dippers have a strong preference for habitats around fast-flowing creeks, usually with dense vegetation, often near rapids.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "cinclus" G. Normand reports spotting a White-throated Dipper, race "cinclus", in Foix, Occitanie, France, in June 2021. Race "aquaticus" We first found a White-throated Dipper, race "aquaticus", at the rapids of the Prüm River, Prümzurlay, in the Eifel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, in August 2014. H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting a White-throated Dipper, race "aquaticus", along the river Rench, between Lautenbach and Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in October 2021. A. Sarok found a White-throated Dipper, race "aquaticus", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024.

Photos

Race "cinclus"

This race is also called the "Northern White-throated Dipper".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Distant lateral view of an adult White-throated Dipper on a rock in a creek; note the all grey-and-white front
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Foix, Occitanie, France, June 2021]

Race "aquaticus"

This race is also called the "Central European Dipper" or "South European Dipper".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a White-throated Dipper (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rench, between Lautenbach and Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, October 2021]

Distant, near-lateral view of a White-throated Dipper in its favourite habitat, near a fast-flowing creek
[Prümzurlay, Eifel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, August 2014]

Lateral view of a White-throated Dipper (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rench, between Lautenbach and Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, October 2021]

Dorsal view of a White-throated Dipper (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rench, between Lautenbach and Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, October 2021]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile White-throated Dipper begging for food (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Lateral view of a juvenile White-throated Dipper (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary

White-throated Dippers are mostly sedentary, but especially in the northern part of their range they can move south-eastwards to overwinter (e.g. in Finland).

White-throated Dippers are the only species of passerine birds known to us that specialize in hunting on, in and even under water.

This unusual specialization leads to another peculiarity of the species. While moulting, White-throated Dippers, although capable of flight, will be secretive and will stay near the richest hunting grounds in their territories.

Lateral view of a White-throated Dipper in its favourite habitat, along a fast-flowing creek (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rench, between Lautenbach and Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, October 2021]

Food, Diet

White-throated Dippers feed on both terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, larvae, molluscs and other small animals. Aquatic species are usually caught in fresh water, but White-throated Dippers have also been seen in coastal areas.

Lateral view of a White-throated Dipper foraging under water (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rench, between Lautenbach and Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, October 2021]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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