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Small, wren-like
bird, dark gray with short, cocked tail, white eyelids that flash when
blinked. Straight black bill. Wades, swims and dives for food. Feeds
on aquatic insects, larvae, clams, snails, crustaceans, and small fish.
Strong direct flight on rapid wing beats.
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AMERICAN
DIPPER
Cinclus mexicanus
PASSERIFORMES
Range
and Habitat
Found from northern treeline in Alaska, throughout the Rockies, Cascades,
and Sierra Nevada, and as far south as Panama. Inhabits swift flowing
mountain streams; less frequently found along mountain ponds and lakes.
Occasionally appears on rocky coasts during winter.
SOUND: "zzeip, zzreip, rreip"
To be able
to survive in cold waters during the winter, the American Dipper has
a low metabolic rate, extra oxygen-carrying capacity in its blood, and
a thick coat of feathers.
Unlike most other songbirds, it molts its wing and tail feathers all
at once in the late summer. It is flightless during this time.
This species is equipped with an extra eyelid called a nictitating membrane
that allows it to see underwater, and scales that close its nostrils
when submerged.
A group of dippers are collectively known as a "ladle" of
dippers.
The American Dipper is native to such countries as Costa Rica, Canada,
the United States, Panama, Guatemala and Honduras.
It has also been seen in Nicaragua as well. The range of the American
Dipper is quite large and is estimated
to be nearly 5 million kilometers.
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