White-throated dipper
Cinclus cinclus
— Where the name comes from
Cinclus comes from kínklos, a small waterside bird that Aristotle described as forever wagging its tail: the dipper is recognised precisely by its constant bobbing on stream stones. The Italian name, “water blackbird”, links it to the blackbird for its dark shape, but they are not related: it has a family of its own.
— Facts
- Group
- Birds · Aves
- Order
- Passerines
- Habitat
- Mountain and hill streams with clear, fast water
- Range
- Europe, North Africa, central and western Asia
- Size
- 17–20 cm, 55–75 g
- Diet
- Caddisfly larvae and other aquatic insects, small crustaceans
- Lifespan
- A few years, about 10 the record
— Characteristics
- 01
It has a white breast that stands out against dark brown plumage.
- 02
It bobs constantly on stones, bending its legs.
- 03
It has a white third eyelid that flashes when it blinks.
— What sets it apart
It is the only songbird that truly goes underwater. It walks into the stream and moves along the bed against the current, gripping the stones: it holds its wings angled so that the flow presses it down, and swims with them when needed. Its plumage is very dense and soaked in an oil that makes it waterproof, and its nostrils close with a small membrane. It is the national bird of Norway, and its presence is one of the best signs that a stream’s water is clean.
