Dippers

Dippers are small, unique passerine birds recognized by their distinctive bobbing actions and the unusual ability to dive and swim underwater. The family Cinclidae contains only one genus, Cinclus, introduced in 1797, with five species including the white-throated dipper, brown dipper, American dipper, white-capped dipper, and rufous-throated dipper. These stout birds are mainly dark with varying colors on the throat, adapted for an aquatic life with solid bones, strong, muscular wings, dense, waterproof feathers, and sharp claws. Dippers are found by fast-moving rivers across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, often delving underwater for invertebrates, small fish, and eggs. They establish linear territories along rivers, constructing mossy dome-shaped nests with side entrances, usually over or near water. Dippers communicate with loud, high-pitched calls and visual signals like blinking to expose white eyelid feathers. While most species are considered of least concern, the rufous-throated dipper is vulnerable due to habitat changes affecting river systems. Dippers face threats from water pollution, river regulation, and, historically, human hunting due to misconceptions about their impact on fish populations.