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Dipper

Cinclus cinclus

Not yet photographed by the community

Rotund bird that walks underwater in upland streams.

Species Profile

Green List (UK Birds of Conservation Concern)

Lifespan: 5–8 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 18–20 cm, wingspan 24–26 cm; 40–75 g
Habitat: Fast-flowing, clear streams and rivers with rocky substrates, typically in upland and moorland regions with good water quality.
UK Distribution: Resident throughout much of Wales, northern England, Scotland, and south-west England; largely absent from lowland southern and eastern England. Populations are year-round residents with some local movements.
Diet: Primarily aquatic invertebrates including mayfly and caddisfly larvae, stonefly nymphs, small fish fry, and freshwater shrimp; occasionally takes small fish.
Prey: Mayfly nymphs, caddisfly larvae, stonefly nymphs, freshwater shrimp, and small fish fry
Predators: Mink, otters, herons, sparrowhawks, and gulls; eggs and chicks vulnerable to corvids and rats
Mating Season: March to June
Breeding: Clutch size 4–5 eggs, incubation period 12–13 days, fledging at 19–25 days; typically one brood per year, occasionally two in southern populations.
Behaviour: Dippers are uniquely adapted for underwater foraging, walking along stream beds whilst submerged using their wings for propulsion. They are territorial birds, often seen bobbing characteristically on rocks in fast-flowing water. They maintain territories year-round and are generally solitary or found in pairs.

Did You Know?

•The Dipper is the only British songbird that hunts underwater by walking along the riverbed
•Their plumage is waterproofed by an unusually large preen gland that produces more oil than in other birds
•They have a specialized valve in their nostrils that closes when diving to prevent water entering
•Dippers are excellent indicators of river health as they require fast-flowing, unpolluted water with abundant aquatic invertebrates
•They build distinctive domed nests of moss and grass, often positioned behind waterfalls or under stream-side vegetation

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