American Dipper Photo Gallery
Adult
Chunky, round-bodied bird with a short tail. Adults are grayish brown overall. Breeding birds have an all dark bill.
© mark daly / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 26, 2023Nonbreeding adult
Chunky, round-bellied bird with a short tail. Some nonbreeding adults can have barred underparts and a yellowish bill.
© Jeff Cooper / Macaulay LibraryUtah, October 15, 2016North America's only aquatic songbird—found along and in fast-flowing streams in western North America and Central America. A round-bodied bird with a short bill and short tail.
© Paul Maury / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, January 04, 2019Not all videos have soundJuvenile
Chunky, round-bellied bird with a short tail. Juveniles look similar to adults, but have barred underparts and a yellowish bill.
© John Riegsecker / Macaulay LibraryWashington, May 18, 2017Adult
Often seen perched on rocks in the middle of a rushing stream where they frequently bob up and down.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 17, 2012Not all videos have soundNonbreeding adult
Grayish brown bird at home in rushing streams where it forages underwater for aquatic insects.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryColorado, November 24, 2018Adult
Often holds its short tail up and bounces up and down on rocks in rushing streams.
© Mary Rumple / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, January 25, 2017Immature
Wades and swims in turbulent rocky streams. Dives beneath the water head-first with wings slightly open to forage for insects.
© Evan Barrientos / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 20, 2011Not all videos have soundAdult
Builds domed nests on cliff ledges, behind waterfalls, on boulders, and on dirt banks or under bridges, but always above or close to fast moving streams.
© Dan Vickers / Macaulay LibraryMontana, July 13, 2017
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