Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

Cinclus mexicanus, the American Dipper, can be found in the mountains of western North America from lower California to northern Alaska. It is also found in Mexico south to Panama. The American Dipper never leaves the company of water. During winter, they sometimes become more common in the lower reaches of the streams on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada (California). In California, Dippers range in elevation from sea level along the central and northern coast, to over 9,000 feet in the central Sierra Nevada, and upwards to 10,000 feet in the White Mountains. Wanderers occasionally exceed 12,000 feet in the central Sierra Nevada. (Schoenherr 1995, Small 1994)

• Biogeographic Regions
• nearctic
  • native
• neotropical
  • native

Habitat

American Dippers prefer swift, clear, cold, permanent streams, especially those with large boulders, tumbling waterfalls, steep cliffs and ledges which can be used as sheltered nest sites. These sites are often located under the waterfalls. Man-made culverts, bridges, and small dams may also be utilized as nest sites. Where such streams flow into clear lakes and ponds, Dippers are often found foraging along the edges of the latter as well. Primary life zones for breeding are Canadian (and occasionally in the upper Sonoran), often extending upwards into the Hudsonian or even higher. The elevation range is from sea level along the central and northern coast, to over 9,000 feet in the central Sierra Nevada, and upwards to 10,000 feet in the White Mountains of California. Wanderers occasionally exceed 12,000 feet in the central Sierra Nevada of California.

(Small 1994)

• Terrestrial Biomes
• mountains

Physical Description

Adult American Dippers grow to roughly 18 cm (7 in.) in length from beak to tail. In the spring, adults are slaty or deep neutral grey on their body, brown on their head and neck, and a darker gray to almost black on their wings and tail. The upper eyelids are touched with a narrow border of white feathers, and their bill is black. Their feet are yellow in color.

During the fall and winter, the colors of adults and immature males and females change. The feathers of underparts become margined with white, and they also have white edging on the wings. The bill turns to a light brown. Young American Dippers are a much lighter color on their stomach compared to the adults. The throat is nearly white, the wing feathers and occasionally tail feathers extensivily are white. Their bill is yellow.

This dipper has large oil glands to help waterproof feathers, and nasal flaps that allow it to close the nostrils under water (Welty 1982)

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic
• bilateral symmetry

• Average mass

  50.2 g

  1.77 oz

  AnAge

Reproduction

The mating ritual consists of the male stretching his neck upward, bill vertical, wings down, partially spread. The male then struts and sings before the female. If the song is right, the male and female will perform together ending the song with their breasts touching.

The American Dipper produces about four to five eggs that are 26 mm x 19 mm in size. The incubation period lasts about 16 days. After birth, the young dipper will remain about 24-25 days under the parents care.

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual
• oviparous

Lifespan/Longevity

• Average lifespan
  Status: wild

  86 months

  Bird Banding Laboratory

Behavior

The American Dipper feeds in and around streams. They often dive into the water, or walk along the bottom of the stream to catch their chosen food. The American Dipper can dive up to 20 feet under water.

The mating ritual of the American Dipper is listed in the previous section. Mating pairs often drive away other dippers that invade their territory (Bent 1948).

Some dippers have been noted to wash food prior to feeding it to their young (Thut 1970).

• Key Behaviors
• flies
• motile

Communication and Perception

• Perception Channels
• visual
• tactile
• acoustic
• chemical

Food Habits

The American Dipper feeds on freshwater invertebrates, especially insect larvae, and very small fish. They have also been known to feed on small aquatic plants.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

None

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

None

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List

  Least Concern
  More information

Contributors

Anthony Camoroda (author), Fresno City College, Shirley Porteous-Gafford (editor), Fresno City College.

References

Bent, A. 1948. Life Histories of North American Birds. New York, New York: Dover.

Dawson, W. 1923. The Birds of California. San Diego, California: South Moulton Company.

Ehrlich, P., D. Dobkin, D. Wheye. 1988. The Birder's Handbook. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster.

Morton, E. 1989. Lords of the Air. Washinghton D.C: Smithsonian Books.

Schoenherrr, A. 1992. A Natural History of California. Berkeley, California: University of California Press.

Skutch, A. 1979. Parent Birds and Their Young.. Austin: University of Texas Press.

Small, A. 1994. California Birds: Their Status and Distrubution. Vista, California: IBIS Publishing Company.

Thut, R. 1970. Feeding Habits of the dipper in Southwestern Washington. Condor, 72: 234-245.

Welty, J. 1982. The Life of Birds. Chicago: Saunders College Publishing.