White-throated dipper

    Cinclus cinclus

Castilian: Mirlo-acuático europeo

Catalan: Merla d'aigua

Gallego: Merlo rieiro

Euskera: Ur zozoa

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Cinclidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

listen song

THREATS

Pollution and water acidification affect the intervertebrates that make up this species' food supply; also, river canalisation, the regulation of its prey, and other factors reduce its habitat. The large presence of hikers, fishermen and passers-by can cause the loss of clutches.

Length / size: 17-20 cm / 25-30 cm

Identification: Medium-sized bird whose pudgy and compact body gives it a characteristic appearance. Its plumage is dark brown on its back, which gives way to a chocolate colour on its head, neck and belly; it has a white bib that reaches its breast; its legs are short and robust; and its bill is thin. Juveniles are greyish, their eye-ring is white, and their bib is a dirty cream colour. It is a restless bird; when it is perched it lifts its tail and bends its legs constantly.

Song: It makes short and loud "chweek" sounds in flight or when moving.

Diet: It feeds on aquatic invertebrates, specifically larvae of mayflies, rock flies, dragonflies and aquatic beetles, although it sometimes eats mollusks and crustaceans. In order to capture them it searches actively, whether it be partially submerged or diving, under pebbles and algae. It submerges itself many times in just a few seconds.

Reproduction: The breeding period begins in March. Both members prepare a spherical nest made of moss and grass which they hide among rocks, or under trunks, bridges, banks, etc.; they have also been seen in nesting boxes. It is the female's job to incubate, although if she leaves, the male takes responsibility. The chicks are cared for by both parents.

HABITAT

It occupies high-quality bodies of water that are home to aquatic invertebrates, in shallow mid- or high mountain rivers where rocks emerge from the surface, and if possible, waters with a natural flow, although it can tolerate moderate pressure from passers-by and human activities.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It appears throughout the entire Cantabrian region, the Pyrenees and Galicia, as well as in the Central and Iberian Systems, where its distribution is more uneven. It is also found in the south, but is rarer.

In Castile and León: It is distributed throughout hilly and mountainous areas in all the provinces except Valladolid, and with important population concentrations in Burgos and León.

Movements and migrations: They make altitudinal movements in the same river basin where they live. The juveniles' dispersive movements are more widespread, although there is little information.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of at least 3300 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of less than 1100 breeding pairs.