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Ural Mts race ''uralensis'' is similar but paler with belly tinged chestnut. | Ural Mts race ''uralensis'' is similar but paler with belly tinged chestnut. | ||
| − | [[British]] race ''gularis'' has strongly chestnut belly but ''hibernicus'' from [[Ireland]], [[Outer Hebrides]] and western [[Scotland]] is darker brown and chestnut of belly darker and less extensive. | + | [[Britain|British]] race ''gularis'' has strongly chestnut belly but ''hibernicus'' from [[Ireland]], [[Outer Hebrides]] and western [[Scotland]] is darker brown and chestnut of belly darker and less extensive. |
''C.c.aquaticus'' from central and southern [[Europe]] including [[Sicily]] is pale above, especially on head and neck, and brighter chestnut on the belly and [[North Africa|North African]] ''minor'' is very similar but with fractionally longer bill. | ''C.c.aquaticus'' from central and southern [[Europe]] including [[Sicily]] is pale above, especially on head and neck, and brighter chestnut on the belly and [[North Africa|North African]] ''minor'' is very similar but with fractionally longer bill. | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Caucasus|Caucasian]] and [[Turkey|Turkish]] race'' caucasicus'' is dull and greyish above and dull brown below, barely tinged chestnut. |
| − | ''C.c.persicus'' is found mainly outside the Western Palearctic in [[Iran]] but may occur in Azerbaijan and eastern [[Turkey]]. This is the largest and palest race, ''rufiventris'' from [[Lebanon]] is similar but smaller. | + | ''C.c.persicus'' is found mainly outside the Western Palearctic in [[Iran]] but may occur in Azerbaijan and eastern [[Turkey]]. This is the largest and palest race, ''rufiventris'' from [[Lebanon]] is similar but smaller. |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Revision as of 04:17, 23 November 2008
- Cinclus cinclus
Identification
18cm. Dark above, brown head, back slate-grey mottled with black, brown wings and tail, white throat and upper breast are white, followed by a band of warm chestnut merging into black on the belly and flanks, black bill, brown legs and eyes.
Distribution
Fairly common in suitable habitats in a widespread but discontinuous range. Breeds in Ireland and north and west Britain, Spain and north Portugal and from southern and eastern France and Italy to the Balkans and Greece. In the north found in central Denmark and throughout Norway and Sweden, north Finland and the southern half of the Kola Peninsula. Isolated pockets in south Finland and the Baltic States, in parts of north Russia and in the Urals. In the south breeds in the Caucasus and much of Turkey, in the Lebanon and in Morocco and north Algeria and in the Mediterranean on Corsica, possibly Sardinia, and Sicily, formerly also Cyprus. Has bred in the Netherlands.
Most populations are basically resident but many make short-distance dispersal movements in autumn usually to lower altitudes. In the far north where waters become frozen makes longer movements and partially migratory leaving breeding areas in October-November and returning in March.
Vagrants have been recorded on Svalbard and the Faroes and Malta and in Tunisia and Iraq (may breed).
Taxonomy
Subspecies
About 10 races have been recorded in the Western Palearctic, one of which, olympicus, the Cyprus Dipper has been extinct since the 1940s.
The nominate race cinclus is found in Scandinavia and north Russia, France and northern Iberia, and Corsica and Sardinia and has dark brown head and neck and blackish belly. Occurs as a rare vagrant to Britain.
Ural Mts race uralensis is similar but paler with belly tinged chestnut.
British race gularis has strongly chestnut belly but hibernicus from Ireland, Outer Hebrides and western Scotland is darker brown and chestnut of belly darker and less extensive.
C.c.aquaticus from central and southern Europe including Sicily is pale above, especially on head and neck, and brighter chestnut on the belly and North African minor is very similar but with fractionally longer bill.
Caucasian and Turkish race caucasicus is dull and greyish above and dull brown below, barely tinged chestnut.
C.c.persicus is found mainly outside the Western Palearctic in Iran but may occur in Azerbaijan and eastern Turkey. This is the largest and palest race, rufiventris from Lebanon is similar but smaller.
Habitat
Found along fast-flowing streams and rivers in upland areas, nesting in rocky banks or behind waterfalls, on bridges and walls. In winter often moves to lower altitudes where seen at weirs, sometimes in slower moving parts of streams and on lakeshores.
Behaviour
The diet includes aquatic invertebrates, caddis worms, aquatic insect larvae, beetles, molluscs, and also small fish.
It builds a large, globular or oval nest of moss, dead grass and leaves, by water, built into a crack or hollow in the rock, in masonry, or on the supports of a bridge, or, more rarely, in an overhanging branch. Hidden beneath a lip of the ball, is the entrance to the real nest within, a cup of grass or sedge, lined with leaves of oak, beech or other trees. 3-6 white eggs are laid starting between March and May. One or two broods are reared, usually in the same nest.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Cinclus cinclus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
