American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

American Dipper

Cinclus mexicanus Swainson, 1827

57 gWeight

The American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), also known as a water ouzel, is a semiaquatic bird species native to western North America and parts of Central America.

Busiest months: January · Most records: United States, Costa Rica, Canada

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

American Dipper has been recorded at 103 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 7 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Railroad Bridge ParkUnited States1,765 records
  2. Virgen del SocorroCosta Rica659 records
  3. PN Tapanti – Sector TapantiCosta Rica599 records
More places
  1. Savegre HotelCosta Rica539 records
  2. Wheat Ridge GreenbeltUnited States523 records
  3. Chatfield SP – Audubon Center & TrailsUnited States454 records
  4. Kiekari Bird ObservatoryMexico435 records
  5. Castlegar – Selkirk College TrailsCanada408 records
  6. La Paz Waterfall GardensCosta Rica368 records
  7. Calgary – Carburn ParkCanada329 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United StatesCosta RicaCanadaMexicoPanamaGuatemalaHonduras

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), also known as a water ouzel, is a semiaquatic bird species native to western North America and parts of Central America.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the American Dipper?

The American Dipper weighs around 57 g.

Where does the American Dipper live?

Its breeding range: North America, Middle America: western Canada to Panama. It is most often recorded in United States, Costa Rica and Canada.

When is the best time to see the American Dipper?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the American Dipper endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the American Dipper as Least Concern.

What does the American Dipper eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the American Dipper in?

It belongs to the family Dippers (Cinclidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
57 g
Habitat
Rivers & streams
Diet
Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle
Varied
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
89 mm
Tail
52 mm
Bill
22 mm
Tarsus
30 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

North America, Middle America: western Canada to Panama

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Dippers Cinclidae
Genus
Cinclus

Other birds in the genus Cinclus

White-throated DipperWhite-throated DipperCinclus cinclusBrown DipperBrown DipperCinclus pallasiiWhite-capped DipperWhite-capped DipperCinclus leucocephalusRufous-throated DipperRufous-throated DipperCinclus schulzii
American Dipper

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Jared Shorma. ↗

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