• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Local Navigation
  • Skip to Search
  • Skip to Sitemap
  • Skip to Footer
Help develop a Bird ID tool!

American Dipper

Cinclus mexicanus ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: CINCLIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

  • Related Species
  • Go to:

A chunky bird of western streams, the American Dipper is North America's only truly aquatic songbird. It catches all of its food underwater in swiftly flowing streams by swimming and walking on the stream bottom.

Birds and Beans Coffee

Appearance

Thrushlike
Thrushlike
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Stocky, medium-sized bird.
  • Gray all over.
  • Large head; short neck.
  • Long legs.
  • Short tail.
  • Thin, dark bill.
  • White eyelids obvious when it blinks.
  • Constantly bobs body up and down.

Immature Description

Similar to adult, but with faint pale barring on underside.

Range Map Help

American Dipper Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

  • Adult
    Zoom In

    American Dipper

    Adult
    • © Marie Read, Mono Lake Basin, California, June 2000