Photo: Dominic Sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-capped Dipper
Cinclus leucocephalus
White-capped Dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-capped Dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus) is a member of the Cinclidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 44 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 leucocephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 44 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Cinclidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-capped 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 White-capped Dipper is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-capped Dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus) belongs to the Cinclidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia to Bolivia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 44 g, with a wing length of about 8.6 cm and a tail of around 4.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 620,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-capped Dipper?
The White-capped Dipper is a small bird that weighs around 44 g.
Where does the White-capped Dipper live?
The White-capped Dipper is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia to Bolivia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-capped Dipper belong to?
The White-capped Dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus) belongs to the Cinclidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-capped Dipper eat?
The White-capped Dipper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the White-capped Dipper migrate?
The White-capped Dipper is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-capped 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.
How large is the White-capped Dipper's range?
The White-capped Dipper has a mapped global range of about 620,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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