Rufous-throated Dipper

The rust -throated Dipper ( Cinclus schulzi ) is a South American representatives of the dippers. It comes only in a narrow area begrenzenten ago in southern Bolivia and northern Argentina, where it breeds on oxygen-rich, clear streams. The species is monotypic. She is the sister species of bald - throated Dipper ( Cinclus leucocephalus), but is considered by some authors as the subspecies.

Description

The rust -throated Dipper is the smallest representative of the Cinclidae. Their body length is about 14-15 inches. It is distinctive in their area of ​​distribution. As with all Dippers the big head is only slightly offset from the body, the body is compact and roundish and often stilted tail is very short. The leaden legs and the equally colored toes are long and strong. The iris is brown-black, the beak dark slate gray.

The rust -throated dipper is largely colored uniform mouse gray. The most striking feature is the orange-brown throat. The bases of the primary feathers are pure white on the inside, on the outside rather washed out white. When wearing a wing of this coloring feature is not apparent. The rust -throated Dipper shrugs but resistant with the wings and process spreads the primaries, so this bright window gets a clear signal effect.

Young birds are similar in coloration of the adults was already strong; safest distinguishing feature is her pink red beak.

Distribution and habitat

The rust -throated dipper is distributed only in a small area on the eastern slopes of the Andes in southern Bolivia and northern Argentina. In Argentina, it comes in suitable habitats in the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca and Tucumán before, in Bolivia in the department of Tarija. The breeding areas of bald - dippers and the rust -throated Dipper are clearly separated.

There she breeds along fast flowing clear mountain streams and small rivers primarily in the dominated Erlenhöhe level 1400-2500 meters. In some area of ​​distribution, largely isolated from one another living populations; in between there are gaps, where the nature despite apparently suitable living conditions does not occur. In some areas, it may be quite common. As their habitat suffice 650-1250 flow meters under favorable conditions.

As long as the water does not freeze, the rust -throated Dipper remains in its breeding grounds; otherwise it migrates into lower-lying areas.

Food and foraging

Like all dippers also rust -throated Dipper feeds exclusively carnivorous. Their diet consists primarily of invertebrates that live aquatic or on stones and rocks in the drift line along the waters edges or occur in the riparian vegetation. Detailed information on the nutritional composition but there is no.

The prey is primarily gleaned from rocks and stones from the water surface or the riparian vegetation or wading captured in very shallow water. Whether the rust -throated Dipper also swims and dives, is controversial; if any of these behaviors were rarely observed.

Behavior

In contrast to all other dippers does not seem to curtsy the rust -throated Dipper, so in quick succession shortly to buckle in the heel joints. Instead, she shrugs her wings and so presents the clear window at the base of the primaries.

Breeding biology

There are very few data on the breeding biology. The few nests that have been described, were in rock niches, but also bridges, always near water, about half a meter up to about a meter above the water level. The nest itself is a typical multi-layer spherical dippers construction with an outer shell mainly of moss and grass stems and an inner bowl of leaves and various fine materials.

The main laying period should be between late October and late December. The nest usually consists of two glossy white eggs. About the hatching and nestling period is no information available.

System

The rust -throated Dipper is one of the five species of the genus Cinclus in the family Cinclidae; occasionally this as a subfamily ( Cinclinae ) is conceived of flycatchers ( Muscicapidae ). Two species are found in Eurasia, one is in North America and two are located in South America. The phylogenetic position of the family is the subject of research. Imagined they were previously on the basis of morphological and behavioral biological similarities in the vicinity of the Wrens ( Troglodytidae ), the firm has assumed more of a closer relationship with the throttles ( Turdidae ) and mockingbirds ( Mimidae ) to.

There are no recognized subspecies. Considerations, believe that the species as subspecies of Bald - dippers, are not considered plausible, but it is likely to be either sister species.

Inventory and inventory development

There are no population figures and estimates of population trends. According to IUCN, the species is due to its small distribution area, the fragmented and partially isolated sub-populations and the regionally declining stocks as endangered. It is estimated that a total stock of about 1,000 to a maximum of 2000 breeding pairs from. The overall range of the species is only about 30,000 square kilometers. Within this region there is a single protection zone on the border with Bolivia in the province of Salta. The remaining areas are threatened primarily by logging and the intensification of livestock. The rust -throated Dipper is very sensitive to a deterioration of their living conditions and then disappears rapidly from traditional breeding waters.