VLC Codec Info incorrectly reports 16-bit FLAC is 32 bits per sample

I used VLC 3.0.11 Vetinari in Windows 10 to convert a 16-bit WAV from a CD rip to FLAC. This worked great, but in both Windows and Linux VLC's Tools > Codec Information reports that its Bits per sample is 32 (see screenshot). However, Windows File Explorer's details pane, the Linux mediainfo tool, and the online metadata2go dot com service agree that its bit depth is 16. I used the command-line flac tool to convert to flac and VLC also mis-identified that as 32 bits per sample, and I checked some 24-bit FLAC downloads and VLC for Linux also mis-identified them as 32 bits per sample.

Bug #18948 (closed) "All FLAC files below 32 bits per sample are up-converted to 32 bits per sample" may be related.

In Linux I notice that if I open a new .flac file in VLC, the Codec pane is often blank, but I think that's a separate bug.

Google's Music Manager for Windows won't upload the FLACs, complaining that it only supports 16 and 24-bit FLAC... maybe it's using VLC on Linux 😉.