American dipper
| American dipper | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Superorder | Passerimorphae |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Sub-order | Passeres |
| Family Information | |
| Superfamily | Muscicapoidea |
| Family | Cinclidae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Cinclus |
| Species Information | |
| Species | C. mexicanus |
| Population statistics | |
| Conservation status | Least concern[1] |
The American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) is a species of songbird of the family Cinclidae, found in North America, and noted for its ability to hunt and feed in or under running water.
Description
American dippers are small birds, roughly the size of a sparrow at just over six inches long. The color is all-gray with a slightly-brownish tinge on their head and throat. The only other color is a pair of white eyelids, shown when the bird blinks.
The name "dipper" comes from their observed habit of feeding. They completely dip their heads in water many times a minute, a bobbing motion which also continues while above water when looking for food. They also completely submerse themselves under water, using their long legs to walk across the stream bed; they also use their wings as a swimming aid. Food consists of aquatic insects and insect larvae, flying insects, and small crustaceans. Small fish, tadpoles, and worms are sometimes taken, but consist of a small overall proportion of their diet.
Subspecies
- Cinclus mexicanus anthonyi
- Chiapas State of Mexico to Guatemala and Honduras
- Cinclus mexicanus ardesiacus
- Mountains of Costa Rica to western Panama
- Cinclus mexicanus dickermani
- Black Hills region, U.S.
- Cinclus mexicanus mexicanus
- Highlands of northern and central Mexico
- Cinclus mexicanus unicolor
- Aleutian Islands to Alaska, western Canada, western U.S.
Habitat
American dippers are found in streams characterized by clean, unpolluted rushing water with a rocky bottom. The shorelines have good cover, with cliff sides or overhanging trees or other vegetation which also provide nesting locations. The birds do not migrate; they stay in favored locations year-round, though they may move to other nearby streams or rivers which are unfrozen during winter.
Their range is mountain slopes of western North America, as far north as the Brooks Range (Alaska), south to Panama.
Nesting
Females choose nesting sites between 3,000 and 8,000 feet elevation in the mountains. The nest itself is about a foot in diameter, and consists of an inner layer of grass and bark, and an outer layer of moss, with the moss designed to collect moisture and keep the interior dry. The opening to the nest is from the bottom.
Inside the nest 4 to 5 eggs are laid, with an incubation period of 17 days. The young are fed by both parents for up to 26 days. Although monogamous, dippers will lead solitary lives when the nesting period is over.
Threats
C. mexicanus is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List due to the large range the birds have over North America. However, increased development in areas where the birds occur, such as the damming of river channels at lower altitudes, pollution and run-off from the alteration of the land to livestock grazing and farming, are recognizable threats. Predation from hawks, owls, and cats also occur.
