American Dipper

The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), also known as a Water Ouzel, is a stocky dark grey bird. Its head is sometimes tinged with brown and it has long legs, and bobs its whole body up and down during pauses as it feeds on the bottom of fast-moving, rocky streams. It inhabits the mountainous regions of western North America from Panama to Alaska.

The song consists of high whistles or trills repeated a few times. This bird sings year round; both male and female may sing.

In most of its habits, it closely resembles its European counterpart, the White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) which is also sometimes known as a Water Ouzel.

Its habit of diving and walking along the bottom of streams in search of food sometimes makes it the occasional prey of large salmon or other anadromous fish.

This bird’s nest is a globe-shaped structure with a side entrance, close to water, on a rock ledge, river bank, behind a waterfall or under a bridge.

They are usually permanent residents, moving slightly south or to lower elevations if necessary to find food or unfrozen water. The presence of this species indicates good water quality; it has vanished from some locations due to pollution or increased silt load in streams.