Photo: Thomas Kraft (ThKraft) / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-throated Dipper
Cinclus cinclus
White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) is a member of the Cinclidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 61.5 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 cinclus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 61.5 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Cinclidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-throated 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-throated Dipper is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) is a species of bird in the Cinclidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL widespread, also nw Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 61.5 g, with a wing length of about 8.9 cm and a tail of around 5 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 8.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-throated Dipper?
The White-throated Dipper is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 61.5 g.
Where does the White-throated Dipper live?
The White-throated Dipper is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL widespread, also nw Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-throated Dipper belong to?
The White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) belongs to the Cinclidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-throated Dipper eat?
The White-throated Dipper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the White-throated Dipper migrate?
The White-throated Dipper is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-throated 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 White-throated Dipper make?
1 real field recording of the White-throated Dipper — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-throated Dipper's range?
The White-throated Dipper has a mapped global range of about 8.5 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.
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Guides for this bird
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