 |
|
|||||||
 Home |
NvWF Membership |
About NvWF |
NvWF in Action |
NvWF Issues |
Environmental Calendar |
NvWF Links |
 Back |
|
American Dipper
 |
|
| Photo by Brad Bergstrom, USGS |
The American Dipper (cinclus mexicanus), a small bird, inhabits, cool, clear swift-moving streams. If the streams are rich in aquatic insects there will likely be dippers and trout present. The dipper is a stocky bird, about 7½ inches long (19 cm), with a short tail. Juveniles and adults of both sexes are very similar.
The plumb grayish dipper is a fascinating and delightful bird. The name is descriptive of their constant dipping or bobbing. The entire body moves up and down, as the dipper repeatedly crouches down on bent legs and straightens up again. Dippers swim poorly on the surface because their feet are not webbed but below the surface they are expert swimmers. Their wings are stubby as is the tail. The wings are used to swim through the water. Dippers can remain submerged for up to 10 seconds. Dippers will fly up and down a stream in search of aquatic food. Dippers feed almost exclusively underwater on larval forms of aquatic insects. To a lesser extent, dippers will feed on small fish and fish eggs.
They are nonmigratory and move to lower elevations in winter to avoid frozen streams. Dippers will not fly over a mountain to find new stream, but follow stream courses down stream and then fly up a feeder stream in search of new territory.
The dipper has a few adaptations for its underwater habitat. The oil or preen gland, effectively waterproofs its feathers. A thick coat of down provides it with ample protection against the coldest water. Small moveable flaps close the nostrils and transparent nictitating membranes, similar to eyelids provide protection when they submerge. The dipper’s call is a series of loud, ringing, casping notes that are loud enough to be heard over rushing water. Think of a piece of chain being pulled out of the opening on a soda can and you’ll get an idea of the dipper’s call.