The American Dipper is one of the most unique songbirds in North America. No other songbird walks, dives, and swims underwater. Along with these abilities is a toughness allowing the bird to survive in ambient temperatures well below zero. As long as the fast flowing streams in which the Dipper lives do not freeze over, the Dipper does just fine.
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| Typical habitat of the American Dipper |
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| The Dipper is a stubby tailed gray bird with brown head and neck which constantly bobs its entire body up and down-even under water. Hence the name "Dipper". |
The bird is widespread and not uncommon in the West. Where unpolluted, fast flowing water exists a pair of Dippers can usually be found. Despite this I did not have any Dipper images in my files. I decided to spend a couple mornings chasing them at the Alluvial Fan in Endovalley. I had seen one there on a scouting trip the previous day. The bird was carrying food in its bill so I concluded it had young from a possible second brood it was raising and would be foraging throughout the day. It sounded like a good plan until the first two hours passed without a single sighting. Tourist started arriving and some began climbing the rocks upstream to the waterfall. Suddenly to my left a Dipper nonchantly appeared working the opposite bank. The bird gave me about a minute before he flew upstream carrying food. I stayed another hour without success.
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| What other songbird can stand on an ice shelf in below zero temperatures diving into rapids reaching nearly ten feet in depth if necessary? |
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