White-throated Dipper

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.