American Dipper Gallery

Dippers are nearly a monochromatic gray, so it may seem surprising that so many people are fond of this enigmatic little bird. They have no close relatives in North America and are the only songbird that regularly swim in the water.

American dipper standing in a stream at Taggart Lake in Grand Teton National Park

American dipper dipping in a stream at Taggart Lake in Grand Teton National Park

Dipping Dipper

Dippers are named for the way they bob up and down, but they also dip their heads into the water. Never colorful, the orange beak of this dipper is one of the signs that it is a juvenile — the bill turns a dark gray in adults, taking away the one colorful part of their appearance.

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