Photo: Se Lena / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown Dipper
Cinclus pallasii
Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii) is a member of the Cinclidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 76 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Cinclidae Dippers
- Genus Cinclus
- Species pallasii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 76 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Cinclidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown Dipper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Brown Dipper is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii) is a member of the Cinclidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL c, e.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 76 g, with a wing length of about 10.2 cm and a tail of around 6.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 9.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown Dipper?
The Brown Dipper is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 76 g.
Where does the Brown Dipper live?
The Brown Dipper is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL c, e, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Brown Dipper belong to?
The Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii) belongs to the Cinclidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Brown Dipper eat?
The Brown Dipper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Brown Dipper migrate?
The Brown Dipper is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown Dipper endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Brown Dipper make?
1 real field recording of the Brown Dipper — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Brown Dipper's range?
The Brown Dipper has a mapped global range of about 9.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Cinclidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.