American Dipper

The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), sometimes, like its European counterpart, known as a Water Ouzel, is a stocky dark grey bird with a head sometimes tinged with brown. 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 western North America from Panama to Alaska.

The song consists of high whistles or trills repeated a few times.

In most of its habits, it closely resembles its European counterpart, the White-throated Dipper, Cinclus cinclus.

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.