The white-throated dipper and American dipper are also known in Britain and America, respectively, as the water ouzel (sometimes spelt "ousel") – ouzel originally meant the only distantly related but superficially similar Eurasian blackbird (Old English osle).
Everything you should know about the Dipper. The Dipper is the the only songbird in the world that can swim under the water.
Dipper, any of five species of songbirds of the Cinclidae family (order Passeriformes) noted for insect hunting by walking underwater in rushing streams and named for their frequent body bobbing.
The American Dipper is North America's only truly aquatic songbird. Dippers have a thin white line of feathers on each eyelid that create a white flash as the bird blinks.
Black-billed Dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus): Also found in South America, similar to the Rufous-throated but with a distinctive black bill. Each species exhibits slight variations in size, plumage, and behavior, though they all share the unique characteristics that define dippers as a group.
Dipper nests are usually large, round, domed structures made of moss, with an internal cup of grass and rootlets, and a side entrance hole. They are often built in confined spaces over, or close to, running water.
The Dipper’s call is a delightful mix of high-pitched notes and rattling warbles, a harmonious soundtrack to the bubbling streams they inhabit. Fun Dipper Facts (kid friendly)
How to identify The Dipper is a short-tailed, stout bird with a low, whirring flight. When perched on a rock, it bobs up and down and often sticks its tail up. Its white throat and breast contrasts with its dark body plumage. It's a daring hunter, walking into and under water in search of food.