dipper

1. One that dips, especially a container for taking up water.
2. One of several small birds of the genus Cinclus that dive into swift-moving streams and feed along the bottom. Also called water ouzel.

(click to enlarge)
Eurasian dipper (Cinclus cinclus) (credit: H.M. Barnfather — Bruce Coleman Inc.)

Any of five songbird species in the genus Cinclus (family Cinclidae), noted for hunting insects by walking underwater in rushing streams. The species are widely distributed in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America. Dippers are plump, stub-tailed birds, about 7 in. (18 cm) long, with a thrushlike bill and legs. They are commonly blackish brown or dull gray. They nest in a dome of moss built in a crevice, often behind a waterfall. See also ouzel.

For more information on dipper, visit Britannica.com.

Cinclus mexicanus

TAXONOMY

Cinclus mexicanus Swainson, 1827, Temescaltepic, Mexico.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Mexican dipper, water ouzel, waterthrush; French: Cincle d'Amérique, cincle américain; German: Grauwasseramsel; Spanish: Cinclo Norteamericano.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

6–7 in (15–17.5 cm); weight, male 2.0–2.3 oz (57–66 g); female, 1.5–2.3 oz (43–65 g). Plumage overall dark gray, paler on chin.

DISTRIBUTION

Western North America from Alaska (north to the Arctic Circle) and east Aleutians, south through western Canada to Arizona and Colorado; numerous disjunct populations from Mexico through Central America to Panama.

HABITAT

Rushing mountain streams; in winter also the fringes of lakes and beaver ponds, sometimes sea-shores. Sea-level in north to 11,000 ft (3,500 m); in Costa Rica 2,600–8,200 ft (800–2,500 m).

BEHAVIOR

Very similar to Eurasian dipper; dives into and swims in fast-flowing water, usually to be seen perched on a mid-stream boulder or flying low above the water. Song is a medley of single notes, audible for long distances; call a sharp "dzik."

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Most food is taken from boulders or stream-beds. Birds usually only remain submerged for 10 seconds or less. Prey almost entirely

aquatic invertebrates. Will occasionally fly-catch; has been seen to pick frozen insects off stream-side snowbanks and beach-hoppers out of cast-up seaweed.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Nest is a spherical or elliptical ball with a side entrance, the outer layer grass or moss, inside a woven cup of grass, leaves and bark, usually located near or above flowing water in rock crevices; also, increasingly, in artificial sites such as bridges or nest boxes. Both sexes build. Eggs white, in North America usually four or five, in Costa Rica two to four. Incubation by female alone, 14–17 days, young fed by both sexes, 24–26 days. Sometimes double-brooded. Usually monogamous; males may, rarely, be polygamous.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened. Frequently common in pristine habitat but susceptible to water pollution from activities such as mining. Some populations apparently augmented by provision of nest sites such as bridges or suitable nest boxes.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Occasionally accused of causing significant damage to fish hatcheries; otherwise no other direct economic significance.

Voice: Note, a sharp zeet. Song clear and ringing, mockingbird-like in form (much repetition of notes), but higher, more wren-like.

Range: Resident, Alaska, w. Canada to w. Panama. Map .

Habitat: Fast-flowing streams in mountains. Lower levels in winter.

American Dipper
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae Genus: Cinclus Species: C. mexicanus
Binomial name
Cinclus mexicanus Swainson, 1827

The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), also known as a Water Ouzel, is a stocky dark grey bird with a head sometimes tinged with brown, and white feathers on the eyelids cause the eyes to flash white as the bird blinks. It is 16.5 cm long and weighs on average 46 g. 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 Central America and western North America from Panama to Alaska.

This species, like other dippers, is equipped with an extra eyelid called a "nictitating membrane" that allows it to see underwater, and scales that close its nostrils when submerged. Dippers also produce more oil than most birds, which may help keep them warmer when seeking food underwater.

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. It feeds on aquatic insects and their larvae, including dragonfly nymphs and caddisfly larvae. It may also take tiny fish or tadpoles.

The song consists of high whistles or trills peee peee pijur pijur repeated a few times. Both sexes of this bird sing year round. It defends a linear territory along streams.

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.

The American Dipper'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. The normal clutch is 2-4 white eggs, incubated solely by the female, which hatch after about 15–17 days, with another 20–25 days to fledging. The male helps to feed the young.

It is usually a permanent resident, moving slightly south or to lower elevations if necessary to find food or unfrozen water. The presence of this indicator species shows good water quality; it has vanished from some locations due to pollution or increased silt load in streams. They even swim up-side-down.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Cinclus mexicanus. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Erlich et al. The Birder's Handbook
• Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cinclus mexicanus

• American Dipper - Cinclus mexicanus - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
• American Dipper Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• American Dipper Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding
• Stamps for United States
• The Dipper - Plain, yes, but not so ordinary
• American Dipper photo gallery VIREO

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - øse, vandstær, baptist

Nederlands (Dutch)
Kleine Beer, indoper, opscheplepel

Français (French)
n. - louche, godet (de pelleteuse), benne (de drague), hotte (à draguer), montagnes russes, (Aut) basculeur (de phares)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Schöpflöffel, (zo.) Wasseramsel, Bagger

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - κουτάλα (με μακρύ χερούλι), (ορνιθ.) καλοβατικό πτηνό, σκάλα προβολέων αυτοκινήτου

Italiano (Italian)
mestolone, (amer. astron.) Orsa

Português (Portuguese)
n. - caneca (f) ou concha (f), mergulhão (m) (Ornit.)

idioms:

• Little Dipper    Ursa Menor (f) (Astr.)

Русский (Russian)
ковш

idioms:

• Little Dipper    Малая Медведица

Español (Spanish)
n. - cazo, cucharón, mirlo acuático, montaña rusa

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - doppare, skopa, bildl. avbländare

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
浸染工人, 浸涂工人, 汲器, 长柄勺, 河鸟

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 浸染工人, 浸塗工人, 汲器, 長柄勺, 河鳥

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 국자, 담그는 기구, 북두칠성

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 浸す人, 水中にもぐる鳥, 浸礼教徒, すくうもの, ひしゃく, バケット, 油壷, 北斗七星

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) طائر الغطاس, ( يعيش قرب النهر), مغرفه, المتصفح ( القارئ بإيجاز)‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮טבלן (עוף מים), תרווד, מצקת, נוצרי בפטיסט (מדוברת, בריטניה)‬

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