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Cinclus cinclus
Dippers are small birds with a short tail and short stumpy wings but very strong legs and unique amongst passerine birds as they are aquatic. They are approximately 18cm in height and 60 - 70kg in weight with males being slightly larger than females. They are reddish brown in colour with a striking white throat patch and get their name from the characteristic bobbing motion when perched on rocks. They have evolved several wonderful ways of hunting in their fast flowing fresh water habitats: they can swim underwater using their wings, swim on the surface making dives and also walk along the bottom. As such they have developed morphological and physiological adaptations including dense plumage with a large preen gland which allows them to waterproof their feathers, they have a nictitating membrane or third white eye-lid which protects their eyes when submerged, nasal flaps to prevent water from entering their nostrils and a high haemoglobin concentration allowing for a greater storage capacity for oxygen increasing the time they can spend underwater. Dippers are early breeders with a nest built and eggs laid as early as the end of February. The nests are built from moss, straw and leaves are located in crevices under bridges, behind waterfalls or in stone walls. The eggs are incubated for around 16 days with young fledging at around 20-24 days with a lifespan of 8 years.
These birds depend on fast-flowing fresh rivers and streams with plenty of perches where they forage for aquatic invertebrates (mayfly and caddisfly larvae in particular) and fish. Generally dippers are considered of least concern but as they are completely dependant on fresh fast-flowing water, accessible food and suitable nest sites they are susceptible to problems such as water pollution, acidification and changes to the overall habitat.
The dippers I have been following and photographing now for a couple of months are a little less shy and elusive than most due to their nest site which is located on the River Axe at a busy tourist attraction. That said, they are rarely seen during the day and the only times I have been able to photograph them is early morning before it opens and after closing.
2 Comments
Hi Victoria!!! This is my favorite bird from Europe! I saw it last year in Germany, and take some picture, but not so beautiful like yours! (sorry for my English).
Greetings from Chile!!!
Love the video!