American Dipper Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The American Dipper chooses a nest site, invariably along a stream, that provides security from floods and predators. Availability of suitable nest sites appears to limit its populations.

To be able to survive in cold waters during the winter, the American Dipper has a low metabolic rate, extra oxygen-carrying capacity in its blood, and a thick coat of feathers.

Unlike most other songbirds, but similarly to ducks, the American Dipper molts its wing and tail feathers all at once in the late summer. The bird is flightless during this time.

The oldest American Dipper was over 8 years old, when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in South Dakota.

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Basic Description

Other Names

Building Skills: The 4 Keys to Bird Identification

Right Bird, Right House: Guide to Birds and Birdhouses for Your Region

Why Birds Hit Windows—and How You Can Help Prevent It

Bird ID Skills: How to Learn Bird Songs and Calls

Feeding Birds: a Quick Guide to Seed Types

Mesmerizing Migration: Watch 118 Bird Species Migrate Across a Map of the Western Hemisphere