American Dipper
Cinclus mexicanus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cinclidae
Genus: Cinclus

Audio for Species

Call
Song

from Macaulay Library

Species Related Links

Additional Dipper Pictures

Description

Length: 5.5-7.9 in (14-20 cm) Weight: 1.5- 2.4 oz (43-67 g)

Dippers are small, stout, short-tailed, short-winged, but strongly muscled, enabling the wings to be used as flippers underwater. They are strong-legged birds with sharp claws enabling them to hold onto rocks in swift water.. A dense plumage with a large preen gland for waterproofing their feathers. The eyes can change the curvature of the lens to enhance underwater vision. With a high haemoglobin concentration and a low metabolic rate, they have a greater capacity to store oxygen allowing them to remain underwater for up to at least 30 seconds. The coloration is gray that appears black, the head is dark brown, almost black. They have a characteristic bobbing motion when perched beside the water, giving them their name.

Habitat, Range, and Feeding

Dippers are found in freshwater habitats in the highlands of Western America and Canada.
Nests are two-part domed structures with a side entrance. The canopy may overhang entrance hole to keep out water. The dome has an outer shell of moss with small amounts of interwoven grass and leaves. The inner chamber is a woven cup of grass and leaves, sometimes bark. Nests are built close to fast moving water, on crevice, cliff, or under a bridge. They will use a nestbox. Clutch size: 2–6 eggs,with white shells.
They feed on aquatic insects, primarily on invertebrates such as the nymphs or larvae of mayflies, blackflies, stoneflies and caddisflies. They also prey on small fish and fish eggs. Molluscs and crustaceans are also consumed, especially in winter when insect larvae are less available.