Passeriformes / Cinclidae / Cinclus
White-throated Dipper
Cinclus cinclus · 河乌
Introduction
An aquatic passerine bird found in Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. It is closely associated with swiftly running rivers and streams, where it forages by diving and swimming underwater using its wings. The species is divided into several subspecies based primarily on colour differences.
Description
Approximately 18 cm (7.1 in) long, rotund, and short-tailed. Adults of subspecies gularis and aquaticus have a brown head, slate-grey back mottled with black, and brown wings and tail. The throat and upper breast are white, followed by a warm chestnut band merging into a black belly and flanks. Subspecies cinclus has a black belly band. The bill is almost black, and legs and irides are brown. Young birds are greyish brown and lack the chestnut band.
Identification
Distinctive bobbing motion with short tail uplifted while perched on rocks. Flight is rapid and straight with swift whirring of short wings, without pauses or glides. Vocalizations include a sweet wren-like song, sharp metallic clink calls during display flights, and a shrill zil call in flight.
Distribution & Habitat
Range extends across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Fourteen subspecies are recognized, including populations in Ireland, Scotland, mainland Europe, northwest Africa, Turkey, Iran, Russia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Himalayas. One subspecies from Cyprus is extinct.
Behavior & Ecology
Forages in fast-flowing water by walking in, submerging, and swimming underwater using wings to pursue aquatic invertebrates such as caddis worms, beetle larvae, molluscs, Gammarus shrimp, fish, and small amphibians. Also feeds on terrestrial invertebrates on banks. Monogamous and territorial; nests near or above water in domed structures of moss and grass. Clutch size is usually 4–5 glossy white eggs. Female incubates for around 16 days; chicks fledge at about 22 days. Maximum recorded age is 10 years and 7 months.
Culture
Norway's national bird. First detailed description dates from c. 1183 by Gerald of Wales in Topographia Hibernica, who incorrectly identified it as an aberrant variety of the common kingfisher.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cinclidae
- Genus
- Cinclus
Subspecies (14)
-
Cinclus cinclus aquaticus
central and southern Europe to Balkan Peninsula
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
