Conservation status: Green
A short-tailed, plump bird with a low, whirring flight. When perched on a rock it habitually bobs up and down and frequently cocks its tail. Its white throat and breast contrasts with its dark body plumage. It is remarkable in its method of walking into and under water in search of food.
Latin name
Cinclus cinclus
Family
Dippers (Cinclidae)
Where to see them
Found along fast-flowing rivers, mainly in upland areas but also on lowland rivers in SW England. Look for tell-tale droppings on stones in the river.
When to see them
All year round.
What they eat
Insect larvae and freshwater shrimps.
Population
| Europe | UK breeding* | UK wintering* | UK passage* | | - | 6,800-20,000 pairs | - | - |
- In the UK
- North, west and south-west of the UK.