White-Throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) lives in fast flowing rivers. In North America it is often referred to as the water ouzel. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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A real field recording of the White-Throated Dipper, made in the wild.
When it dives, the dipper uses its strong wings like underwater propellers, keeping its head low and its body at an oblique angle while it swims beneath the surface. This wing-powered motion lets it stay submerged and chase prey, and the effort creates a visible line of rising bubbles that marks its path. By gripping the substrate with its feet and then thrusting forward, it can pursue aquatic insects and small crustaceans such as Gammarus.
Although the dipper can walk on rocks at the water's edge, it cannot walk along the streambed because gravity prevents it from staying afloat. Instead, after submerging it relies on swimming, using its wings to generate lift and propulsion while its feet grip the bottom for stability. This method allows it to pursue prey hidden among the substrate, such as insect larvae and molluscs, without sinking uncontrollably.
Ring-recovery data indicate that the longest-lived white-throated dipper was a bird ringed in Finland that survived for 10 years and 7 months, showing the species can reach a decade in the wild. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the record is slightly lower, with a bird recovered in County Laois living to 8 years and 9 months. These ages reflect the bird's relatively long lifespan for a small passerine that spends much of its life in fast-flowing streams.
When breeding, the dipper constructs a dome-shaped nest of moss, grass stems and leaves, usually positioned very close to or directly above water to keep the brood safe from flooding. The structure features a side entrance that leads to an inner cup woven from stems, rootlets and hair, providing a snug cradle for the eggs.
Sources
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RangeIn North America it is often referred to as the water ouzel
HabitatFast flowing rivers
DietInsects and crustaceans
About the White-Throated Dipper
In the misty veil of a mountain stream, the White-Throated Dipper dances with effortless ease, its slate-grey feathers glistening with dew as it plunges into the icy waters with a gentle splash. With a twitch of its short, stubby tail, it darts beneath the surface, its eyes scanning the riverbed for the hidden treasures of aquatic insects and crustaceans. As it emerges, shaking its feathers with a soft rustle, the dipper's melodious song echoes through the valley, a joyful serenade to the wild beauty of its domain.
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