Bird Guide

American Dipper vs White-throated Dipper

American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)

American Dipper

Cinclus mexicanus

Small57 gRiverine

The American dipper is a stocky, grey bird with a head sometimes tinged with brown, and white feathers on the eyelids that cause the eyes to flash white as the bird blinks. On average, it measures 16.5 cm (6.5 in) in length, has a wingspan of 23 cm (9.1 in), and weighs 46 g (1.6 oz).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jared Shorma · cc-by
White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)

White-throated Dipper

Cinclus cinclus

Medium61 gRiverine

The white-throated dipper is about 18 cm (7.1 in) long, rotund, and short tailed. The head of the adult (C. c. gularis and C. c. aquaticus) is brown, the back is slate-grey mottled with black, looking black from a distance, and the wings and tail are brown. The throat and upper breast are white, followed by a band of warm chestnut, which merges into black on the belly and flanks. The bill is almost black, the legs and irises brown. C. c. cinclus has a black belly band. The young are greyish brown and have no chestnut band. Voice: The male has a sweet wren-like song. During courtship, the male sings whilst he runs and postures, exhibiting his snowy breast, and when displaying, he takes long and high flights, like those of the common kingfisher, accompanied by sharp, metallic calls clink, clink, different from the normal zil.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Terje Kolaas · CC BY 4.0
Photo: (c) Dirk-Jan van Roest, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: American Dipper and White-throated Dipper.