White-capped dipper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-capped dipper |
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| Subspecies Cinclus leucocephalus leuconotus | |
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The white-capped dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus) is a small bird that lives in water. It is a type of passerine bird, which means it belongs to a large group of birds often called "perching birds." You can find this bird in South America. It is mostly black with white spots. It lives in the Andes Mountains, from northern Bolivia all the way through Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, up to northwest Venezuela.
About the White-Capped Dipper's Name
Scientists give every animal a special two-part name. This helps everyone know exactly which animal they are talking about. The white-capped dipper's scientific name is Cinclus leucocephalus.
A Swiss scientist named Johann Jakob von Tschudi first described this bird in 1844. He gave it its scientific name. The name leucocephalus comes from two old Greek words: leukos, which means "white," and -kephalos, which means "-headed." So, its name literally means "white-headed dipper"!
There are three slightly different types, or subspecies, of the white-capped dipper:
- C. l. rivularis: This type lives in northern Colombia.
- C. l. leuconotus: You can find this one from western Venezuela down to Ecuador.
- C. l. leucocephalus: This is the original type, found in Peru and Bolivia.
What Does the White-Capped Dipper Look Like?
The white-capped dipper is a small bird, about 15 to 16.5 centimeters (6 to 6.5 inches) long. It weighs between 38 and 59 grams (about 1.3 to 2 ounces). Male and female dippers look very similar, but the male is usually a little bit bigger.
The most common type of white-capped dipper has a white area on the back of its neck and on its head. This white part has thin, dark brown lines. The rest of its upper body is dark brown. Its throat is white, and the rest of its underside is dark brown. It has a black beak and dark grey legs.
The different subspecies have small differences in their appearance:
- The rivularis subspecies is a bit lighter in color and has faint grey spots on its throat.
- The leuconotus subspecies has a white belly and a big white patch on its upper back.
