American Dipper

Cinclus mexicanus

Also known as:Water Ouzel

Explore this bird

Identification

19 cm (7-8") Common. Western North America.

A solitary chunky robust aquatic bird. Dark sooty-gray overall. Black bill. Short tail and wings.

Immature: lighter with a pale bill.

Wades and swims in rushing mountain streams to feed.

Song: loud and musical like a wren's.

Details in the field

4 photos

Watch and learn

1 video

Amazing Birds - The American Dipper

Credit: Glenn Bartley

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 6

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:757-american-dipper:1:1 Source: 757 American Dipper, row 1

Rule 2 5 criteria confidence 6

How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
List any unique feeding behaviour observed ?: Bobbing the head, tail, or whole body up and down
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Wooded freshwater habitat · Freshwater marsh or wetland · Freshwater shoreline · Open body of freshwater
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:757-american-dipper:2:1 Source: 757 American Dipper, row 2