White-throated dipper / Wasseramsel (Cinclus cinclus)

Wasseramsel in Andermatt. 2025-06-14 10:07:13 Andermatt

Observations

First documented observation: 2024-04-27 in Schachen, Tobel Wissbach till Degersheim. Most recent observation: 2025-06-14 in Andermatt.

Description

Classification: Genus Cinclus (Cinclus); Family Cinclidae (Cinclidae)
General: I saw a bird in Meride, Ticino in October 2020 on a tree limb that showed three bands of strong colors that I recall as black, white and red-brown. Unfortunately I discovered that my camera battery was dead, so I can only rely on a very shaky memory. I've speculatively identified it as a White-throated Dipper (German Wasseramsel), which are present in that area, though are most expected at water (there's a river nearby though). At least I'll have this bird on my radar now.
General: Expected near rivers and streams.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel, Wintergast

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 02-20 - 07-20
Migration in: 02-01 - 04-01
Migration out: 07-10 - 10-27
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=25-30 cm, weight=49-84 g
Habitats: Wetland

Vocalisation

Song: Wonderfully weird sequence of chirps, cheeps, growls. Elements often repeated twice. In a quiz, I mistook it for a starling. This recording reminds me of other water songbirds like the Marsh warbler and various reed warblers.
Song: Song a mid tempo, staccato improvisation on contact call-like sounds. Not unlike a budgerigar. Both sexes sing, the female less melodic and more staccato than the male. [Link] Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: 1-7 KHz Special sounds: rasp, weird
Calls: Contact call a short, metallic and explosive "zrreet", often betraying its presence perched among boulders or when flying up and down a stream. [Link] Chirp repeated 1-2s.
XC883371 - White-throated Dipper - Cinclus cinclus - squeaky, rhythmic call.

XC883371 - White-throated Dipper - Cinclus cinclus - squeaky, rhythmic call. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC883371 - White-throated Dipper - Cinclus cinclus - squeaky, rhythmic call.mp3 (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 4-7 KHz,