Photo: dominic sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
American Dipper
Cinclus mexicanus
American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) is a member of the Cinclidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 56.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Cinclidae Dippers
- Genus Cinclus
- Species mexicanus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 56.7 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Cinclidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American Dipper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The American Dipper is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) belongs to the Cinclidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA w Canada to Panama.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 56.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.9 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Dipper?
The American Dipper is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 56.7 g.
Where does the American Dipper live?
The American Dipper is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA w Canada to Panama, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the American Dipper belong to?
The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) belongs to the Cinclidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the American Dipper eat?
The American Dipper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the American Dipper migrate?
The American Dipper is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the American Dipper endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the American Dipper make?
1 real field recording of the American Dipper — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the American Dipper's range?
The American Dipper has a mapped global range of about 4.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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