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Dipper
Dippers are members of the genus ''Cinclus'' in the bird family Cinclidae, so-called because of their bobbing or dipping movements. They are unique among passerines for their ability to dive and swim underwater. Taxonomy The genus ''Cinclus'' was introduced by the German naturalist Moritz Balthasar Borkhausen in 1797 with the white-throated dipper (''Cinclus cinclus'') as the type species. The name ''cinclus'' is from the Ancient Greek word ''kinklos'' that was used to describe small tail-wagging birds that resided near water. ''Cinclus'' is the only genus in the family Cinclidae. The white-throated dipper and American dipper are also known in Britain and America, respectively, as the ''water ouzel'' (sometimes spelt "ousel") – ouzel originally meant the only distantly related but superficially similar Eurasian blackbird (Old English ''osle''). Ouzel also survives as the name of a relative of the blackbird, the ring ouzel. The genus contains five species: *White-throated d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Dipper
The American dipper (''Cinclus mexicanus''), also known as a water ouzel, is a stocky dark grey bird with a head sometimes tinged with brown, and white feathers on the eyelids that cause the eyes to flash white as the bird blinks. It is long, has a wingspan of , and weighs on average . It has long legs, and bobs its whole body up and down during pauses as it feeds on the bottom of fast-moving, rocky streams. It inhabits the mountainous regions of Central America and western North America from Panama to Alaska. Taxonomy The American dipper was described by the English zoologist William John Swainson in 1827 and given the binomial name ''Cinclus mexicanus''. The type locality is Temascaltepec de González in Mexico. There are five subspecies: * ''C. m. unicolor'' Bonaparte, 1827 – Alaska, west Canada and west USA * ''C. m. mexicanus'' Swainson, 1827 – north and central Mexico * ''C. m. anthonyi'' Griscom, 1930 – southeast Mexico, southwest Guatemala, east Honduras a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-throated Dipper
The white-throated dipper (''Cinclus cinclus''), also known as the European dipper or just dipper, is an aquatic passerine bird found in Europe, Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. The species is divided into several subspecies, based primarily on colour differences, particularly of the pectoral band. The white-throated dipper is Norway's national bird. Taxonomy and systematics The white-throated dipper was described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his ''Systema Naturae'' under the binomial name ''Sturnus cinclus''. The current genus ''Cinclus'' was introduced by the German naturalist Moritz Balthasar Borkhausen in 1797. The name ''cinclus'' is from the Ancient Greek word that was used to describe small tail-wagging birds that resided near water. Of the five species now placed in the genus, a molecular genetic study has shown that the white-throated dipper is most closely related to the other Eurasian species, the brow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-throated Dipper
The white-throated dipper (''Cinclus cinclus''), also known as the European dipper or just dipper, is an aquatic passerine bird found in Europe, Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. The species is divided into several subspecies, based primarily on colour differences, particularly of the pectoral band. The white-throated dipper is Norway's national bird. Taxonomy and systematics The white-throated dipper was described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his ''Systema Naturae'' under the binomial name ''Sturnus cinclus''. The current genus ''Cinclus'' was introduced by the German naturalist Moritz Balthasar Borkhausen in 1797. The name ''cinclus'' is from the Ancient Greek word that was used to describe small tail-wagging birds that resided near water. Of the five species now placed in the genus, a molecular genetic study has shown that the white-throated dipper is most closely related to the other Eurasian species, the brow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brown Dipper
The brown dipper (''Cinclus pallasii''), also known as Pallas's dipper, Asian dipper or the Asiatic dipper, is an aquatic songbird found in the mountains of the east Palearctic. It is a thrush-like bird with a cocked tail. Its plumage is chocolate-brown with a slightly lighter coloured back and breast. At and , it is the largest of the dippers. This species, which is not often seen, is found at medium to low elevations where mountain streams flow. Taxonomy The brown dipper was described by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1820 and given the binomial name ''Cinclus pallasii''. The type locality is Eastern Siberia. The specific epithet ''pallasii'' was chosen in honour of the Prussian naturalist Peter Simon Pallas (1741–1811). Of the five species now placed in the genus, a molecular genetic study has shown that the brown dipper is most closely related to the other Eurasian species, the white-throated dipper (''Cinclus cinclus''). There are three subspecies: * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-capped Dipper
The white-capped dipper (''Cinclus leucocephalus'') is an aquatic passerine found in South America. It is a small black bird with white spots. It is found in the Andes from northern Bolivia, through Peru, Ecuador, Colombia to northwest Venezuela. Taxonomy The white-capped dipper was described by the Swiss naturalist Johann Jakob von Tschudi in 1844 and given the binomial name ''Cinclus leucocephalus''. The type locality is the Junín Province in Peru. The specific epithet ''leucocephalus'' combines the Ancient Greek ''leukos'' "white" and ''-kephalos'' "-headed". Of the five species now placed in the genus, a molecular genetic study has shown that the white-capped dipper is most closely related to the other South American species, the rufous-throated dipper (''Cinclus schulzii''). There are three subspecies: * ''C. l. rivularis'' Bangs, 1899 – north Colombia * ''C. l. leuconotus'' Sclater, PL, 1858 – west Venezuela to Ecuador * ''C. l. leucocephalus'' Tschudi, 1844 – Pe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brown Dipper
The brown dipper (''Cinclus pallasii''), also known as Pallas's dipper, Asian dipper or the Asiatic dipper, is an aquatic songbird found in the mountains of the east Palearctic. It is a thrush-like bird with a cocked tail. Its plumage is chocolate-brown with a slightly lighter coloured back and breast. At and , it is the largest of the dippers. This species, which is not often seen, is found at medium to low elevations where mountain streams flow. Taxonomy The brown dipper was described by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1820 and given the binomial name ''Cinclus pallasii''. The type locality is Eastern Siberia. The specific epithet ''pallasii'' was chosen in honour of the Prussian naturalist Peter Simon Pallas (1741–1811). Of the five species now placed in the genus, a molecular genetic study has shown that the brown dipper is most closely related to the other Eurasian species, the white-throated dipper (''Cinclus cinclus''). There are three subspecies: * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-capped Dipper
The white-capped dipper (''Cinclus leucocephalus'') is an aquatic passerine found in South America. It is a small black bird with white spots. It is found in the Andes from northern Bolivia, through Peru, Ecuador, Colombia to northwest Venezuela. Taxonomy The white-capped dipper was described by the Swiss naturalist Johann Jakob von Tschudi in 1844 and given the binomial name ''Cinclus leucocephalus''. The type locality is the Junín Province in Peru. The specific epithet ''leucocephalus'' combines the Ancient Greek ''leukos'' "white" and ''-kephalos'' "-headed". Of the five species now placed in the genus, a molecular genetic study has shown that the white-capped dipper is most closely related to the other South American species, the rufous-throated dipper (''Cinclus schulzii''). There are three subspecies: * ''C. l. rivularis'' Bangs, 1899 – north Colombia * ''C. l. leuconotus'' Sclater, PL, 1858 – west Venezuela to Ecuador * ''C. l. leucocephalus'' Tschudi, 1844 – Pe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rufous-throated Dipper
The rufous-throated dipper or Argentine dipper (''Cinclus schulzii'') is an aquatic songbird found in South America, and is part of the dipper family. It lives along rapid rocky streams of the Southern Andean Yungas, in far southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina at 800 metres to 2500 metres in elevation. The bird breeds in the alder zone at 1500 metres to 2500 metres in elevatio BirdLife International have classified this species as "Vulnerable". Threats included reservoir construction, hydroelectric dams, and irrigation schemes. The current population is estimated at 3,000 to 4,000. Taxonomy The rufous-throated dipper was described by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1882 and given the binomial name ''Cinclus schulzii''. The type locality is the mountain of Cerro Bayo in northern Argentina. The specific epithet ''schulzii'' was chosen to honour the German zoologist Friedrich W. Schulz (1866-1933) who had collected the specimen. The species is monotypic. Of the fiv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rufous-throated Dipper
The rufous-throated dipper or Argentine dipper (''Cinclus schulzii'') is an aquatic songbird found in South America, and is part of the dipper family. It lives along rapid rocky streams of the Southern Andean Yungas, in far southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina at 800 metres to 2500 metres in elevation. The bird breeds in the alder zone at 1500 metres to 2500 metres in elevatio BirdLife International have classified this species as "Vulnerable". Threats included reservoir construction, hydroelectric dams, and irrigation schemes. The current population is estimated at 3,000 to 4,000. Taxonomy The rufous-throated dipper was described by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1882 and given the binomial name ''Cinclus schulzii''. The type locality is the mountain of Cerro Bayo in northern Argentina. The specific epithet ''schulzii'' was chosen to honour the German zoologist Friedrich W. Schulz (1866-1933) who had collected the specimen. The species is monotypic. Of the fiv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Preen Gland
The uropygial gland, informally known as the preen gland or the oil gland, is a bilobed sebaceous gland possessed by the majority of birds used to distribute the gland's oil through the plumage by means of preening. It is located dorsally at the base of the tail (between the fourth caudal vertebra and the pygostyle) and is greatly variable in both shape and size. In some species, the opening of the gland has a small tuft of feathers to provide a wick for the preen oil (see below). It is a holocrine gland enclosed in a connective tissue capsule made up of glandular acini that deposit their oil secretion into a common collector tube ending in a variable number of pores (openings), most typically two. Each lobe has a central cavity that collects the secretion from tubules arranged radially around the cavity. The gland secretion is conveyed to the surface via ducts that, in most species, open at the top of a papilla (nipple-like structure). Etymology From : Medieval Latin, from Anc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plumage
Plumage ( "feather") is a layer of feathers that covers a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage differ between species and subspecies and may vary with age classes. Within species, there can be different colour morphs. The placement of feathers on a bird is not haphazard, but rather emerge in organized, overlapping rows and groups, and these are known by standardized names. Most birds moult twice a year, resulting in a breeding or ''nuptial plumage'' and a ''basic plumage''. Many ducks and some other species such as the red junglefowl have males wearing a bright nuptial plumage while breeding and a drab ''eclipse plumage'' for some months afterward. The painted bunting's juveniles have two inserted moults in their first autumn, each yielding plumage like an adult female. The first starts a few days after fledging replacing the ''juvenile plumage'' with an ''auxiliary formative plumage''; the second a month or so l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bird Feet And Legs
The anatomy of bird legs and feet is diverse, encompassing many accommodations to perform a wide variety of functions. Most birds are classified as digitigrade animals, meaning they walk on their toes rather than the entire foot. Some of the lower bones of the foot (the distals and most of the metatarsal) are fused to form the tarsometatarsus – a third segment of the leg, specific to birds. The upper bones of the foot ( proximals), in turn, are fused with the tibia to form the tibiotarsus, as over time the centralia disappeared. The fibula also reduced.; ; The legs are attached to a strong assembly consisting of the pelvic girdle extensively fused with the uniform spinal bone (also specific to birds) called the '' synsacrum'', built from some of the fused bones. Hindlimbs Birds are generally digitigrade animals (toe-walkers), which affects the structure of their leg skeleton. They use only their hindlimbs to walk (bipedalism). Their forelimbs evolved to become wings. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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