White-capped Dipper
Cinclus leucocephalus
The White-capped Dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus) is a uncommon dipper found in 5 countries, weighing about 44 g. The white-capped dipper is a semiaquatic passerine bird of South America.
About the White-capped Dipper
The white-capped dipper is a semiaquatic passerine bird of South America. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The white-capped dipper is 13.5 to 16.5 cm (5.3 to 6.5 in) long and weighs 38 to 59 g (1.3 to 2.1 oz). The sexes have the same plumage, but males are slightly larger than females. Adults of the nominate subspecies C. l. leucocephalus have a white crown and nape that sometimes have blackish brown streaks. The rest of their face is sooty brown with white eyelids. The sooty brown continues onto their blackish brown upperparts and tail. Their wings are mostly blackish brown with white inner webs on the secondaries. Voice: The white-capped dipper's song has been described as "a prolonged loud trill". A more detailed description is "a loud, varied warbling with some harsh phrases; remarkably audible over the rushing sound of water". Its call, usually given in flight and heard above the water noise, is "a loud, buzzy str'e'e'e'e'd (or zre'e'e'e'e'd), like high-voltage electricity".
What the White-capped Dipper sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The White-capped Dipper can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-capped Dipper?
- The white-capped dipper is 13.5 to 16.5 cm (5.3 to 6.5 in) long and weighs 38 to 59 g (1.3 to 2.1 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-capped Dipper?
- The White-capped Dipper is a small sized bird weighing about 44 g.
- Where can you see a White-capped Dipper?
- The White-capped Dipper occurs in 5 countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Bolivia.
- What does a White-capped Dipper sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the White-capped Dipper on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a White-capped Dipper?
- The White-capped Dipper is most easily confused with the Brown Dipper, the Rufous-throated Dipper and the American Dipper.
- Is the White-capped Dipper endangered?
- The White-capped Dipper is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the White-capped Dipper for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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