Rufous-throated Dipper
Cinclus schulzii
The Rufous-throated Dipper (Cinclus schulzii) is a rare dipper found in 2 countries, weighing about 38 g. The rufous-throated dipper or Argentine dipper is a Vulnerable species of semiaquatic songbird of South America.
About the Rufous-throated Dipper
The rufous-throated dipper or Argentine dipper is a Vulnerable species of semiaquatic songbird of South America. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The rufous-throated dipper is 14 to 15.5 cm (5.5 to 6.1 in) long and weighs about 40 g (1.4 oz). The sexes have the same plumage, but males are slightly larger than females. Adults have a dark brownish gray head and upperparts. Their wings and tail are slightly darker. The wing's primaries' upper surfaces have white bases on their inner webs that only show when the wing is open. Their wing's underside has a wide white band at the base of the primaries. Their chin is grayish and their throat and upper breast orange-rufous. Voice: As of March 2026 xeno-canto had five recordings of rufous-throated dipper vocalizations; the Cornell Lab's Macaulay Library had 12 with some overlap. The species' song is "a loud melodious warbling or trilling" that is similar to that of the white-throated dipper, (C. cinclus).
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Rufous-throated Dipper?
- The rufous-throated dipper is 14 to 15.5 cm (5.5 to 6.1 in) long and weighs about 40 g (1.4 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Rufous-throated Dipper?
- The Rufous-throated Dipper is a small sized bird weighing about 38 g.
- Where can you see a Rufous-throated Dipper?
- The Rufous-throated Dipper occurs in 2 countries, including Argentina and Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to a Rufous-throated Dipper?
- The Rufous-throated Dipper is most easily confused with the Brown Dipper, the White-capped Dipper and the American Dipper.
- Is the Rufous-throated Dipper endangered?
- The Rufous-throated Dipper is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Rufous-throated Dipper for real
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